# Nuclear Science and Techniques

《核技术》(英文版) ISSN 1001-8042 CN 31-1559/TL     2019 Impact factor 1.556

Nuclear Science and Techniques ›› 2018, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (11): 167

### Investigation of the radiosensitization effect in FePt nanopaticle clusters with Monte Carlo simulation

Peng-Yuan Qi 1 • Zhi-Tao Dai 1 • Jun Zhang 2 • Hong Quan 1 • Hao Peng 1

1. 1 Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of the Ministry of Education and Center for Electronic Microscopy and Department of Physics, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
• Contact: Hong Quan E-mail:00007962@whu.edu.cn
• Supported by:
This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 10875092 and 31271511), and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China (No. 2012KB04449). The authors thank sincerely to the Department of Radio- and Chemo-therapy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, and Elekta Instrument (Shanghai) Ltd., for providing the experimental environment for this research.
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Peng-Yuan Qi, Zhi-Tao Dai, Jun Zhang, Hong Quan, Hao Peng. Investigation of the radiosensitization effect in FePt nanopaticle clusters with Monte Carlo simulation.Nuclear Science and Techniques, 2018, 29(11): 167
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Abstract:

Nanoparticles (NPs) with high-Z atoms have been widely studied as radiosensitizers for use in cancer therapy. Over the past few years, the application of FePt NPs has attracted extensive research interest. Promising results have been obtained, yet limited knowledge is available regarding its potential use as a radiosensitizer. The goal of this study is to investigate the radiosensitization capability of FePt nanoparticle clusters (NPCs) under the exposure of kilovoltage photons using Monte Carlo simulation. First, in order to obtain a realistic distribution of NPCs on the microscopic level, Hela cells were incubated with FePt NPs, and the distribution of NPCs was obtained by optical microscope images and X-ray Nano- CT experiments. Based on these images, a simplified cell model was developed to evaluate the DER of two material types (FePt and FePt3). For each type, the dependence of DER on the thickness and angular distribution of NPCs on the surface of the cell membrane was studied quantitatively. Our results suggest that DER is strongly dependent on photon energy and the distance from the NPCs to the nucleus. Fe1Pt3 is able to achieve a higher DER relative to Fe1Pt1. For a given X-ray energy, DER demonstrates an initial increase to a maximum value but gradually saturates as the thickness of NPCs increases from 250 up to 2000 nm due to a trapping effect. The impact on DER resulting from the coexistence of the NPCs on the cell membrane and the nuclear membrane was also investigated.