Methods of enhancing radiation effects with metal nanoparticles
AssigneeNanoprobes, Inc.
InventorsJames F. Hainfeld, Daniel N. Slatkin
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods of using metal nanoparticles 0.5 to 400 nm in diameter to enhance the dose and effectiveness of x-rays or of other kinds of radiation in therapeutic regimes of ablating a target tissue, such as tumor. The metal nanoparticles can be administered intravenously, intra-arterially, or locally to achieve specific loading in and around the target tissue. The metal nanoparticles can also be linked to chemical and/or biochemical moieties which bind specifically to the target tissue. The enhanced radiation methods can also be applied to ablate unwanted tissues or cells ex vivo.
Claims34
A method of enhancing the effects of radiation directed to a tissue or a population of cells of an animal, comprising administering an amount of metal nanoparticles to said animal such that said metal nanoparticles are brought into the vicinity of or into contact with said tissue or a population of cells, and irradiating said tissue or said population of cells in the presence of said metal nanoparticles, wherein said metal nanoparticles are administered to said animal in an amount to achieve a concentration at least about 0.1% metal by weight in said tissue or said population of cells.
A method of enhancing the effects of radiation directed to a tissue or a population of cells of an animal, comprising administering an amount of metal nanoparticles to said tissue or said population of cells ex vivo such that said metal nanoparticles are brought into the vicinity of or into contact with said tissue or a population of cells, and irradiating said tissue or said population of cells in the presence of said metal nanoparticles, wherein said metal nanoparticles are administered in an amount to achieve a concentration at least about 0.1% metal by weight in said tissue or said population of cells, and wherein said radiation is selected from the group consisting of x-ray radiation, microbeam arrays of x-ray radiation, radioisotope radiation, electron radiation, proton radiation, ion beam radiation, and neutron radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.