Folic Acid Modified Bismuth Sulfide and Gold Heterodimers for Enhancing Radiosensitization of Mice Tumors to X-ray Radiation
Fatemeh Abhari, Jalil Charmi, Hamed Rezaeejam, Zhaleh Karimimoghaddam, Hamed Nosrati, Hossein Danafar, Alireza Farajollahi
Abstract
The development of high-Z based metallic nanomaterials as radiosensitizers are limited due to having some challenges such as nonideal selectivity to the target tissue. In this work, we prepared X-ray triggered Bi2S3-Au heterodimers with a Schottky barrier and hopeful capability of the generation of free radicals for selectively improving radiotherapeutic efficacy in the tumors via not complicated and environmentally friendly methods. We explain the use of folic acid (FA) functionalized, BSA-modified Bi2S3-Au heterodimers (i.e., Bi2S3-Au-BSA-FA hybrids) as a targeted radiosensitizer for breast cancer therapy in the murine model. In addition to that, FA could give a tumor targeting ability, and the BSA coating could prolong circulation time ability to this hybrid system. The FA functionalized Bi2S3-Au heterodimer demonstrated in vitro and in vivo tumor enhanced radio sensitization. When the tumors were irradiated 24 h after receiving the Bi2S3-Au-BSA-FA hybrids, not only significant tumor inhibition was seen but also the survival ratio was increased in mice. Furthermore, the tumor bearing mice experienced a more effective tumor rejection when they received Bi2S3-Au-BSA-FA hybrids + X-ray irradiation than both of the Bi2S3-BSA + X-ray and Au + X-ray groups.