Biodegradable hafnium-doped CaCO3 nanoparticles as a dual-modality radiosensitizer for cancer radiotherapy

Radiotherapy employs high-energy ionizing radiation to inflict DNA damage on cancer cells, thereby causing their demise. However, this procedure can inadvertently harm healthy tissue. Thus, this study aimed to develop biodegradable radiosensitizers that counteract these adverse effects by enhancing the radiation sensitivity of tumor cells and safeguarding normal cells. A biodegradable radiosensitizer was engineered by incorporating hafnium ions (Hf) into calcium carbonate (CaCO) nanoparticles via a chemical precipitation technique, resulting in the formation of Hf:CaCO nanoparticles. Our findings demonstrate that Hf:CaCO nanoparticles exhibit pH-dependent solubility and can augment the efficacy of radiotherapy in treating cancer cells. This research underscores the potential of Hf:CaCO nanoparticles as a dual-modality radiosensitizer in radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy is a common cancer treatment that uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. However, it can also harm healthy cells. To protect healthy cells and make the treatment more effective, we use something called radiosensitizers. In our study, we made a new kind of radiosensitizer using hafnium ions (Hf) and CaCO nanoparticles. We made these nanoparticles using a method called chemical precipitation. Our tests showed that these nanoparticles are safe for the body and can make radiotherapy more effective against cancer cells, which could be a useful tool in cancer treatment.