Nanomicelles of Radium Dichloride [223 Ra]RaCl2 Co-Loaded with Radioactive Gold [198 Au]Au Nanoparticles for Targeted Alpha–Beta Radionuclide Therapy of Osteosarcoma

Abstract

Alpha and beta particulate radiation are used for non-treated neoplasia, due to their ability to reach and remain in tumor sites. Radium-223 (223 Ra), an alpha emitter, promotes localized cytotoxic effects, while radioactive gold (198 Au), beta-type energy, reduces radiation in the surrounding tissues. Nanotechnology, including several radioactive nanoparticles, can be safely and effectively used in cancer treatment. In this context, this study aims to analyze the antitumoral effects of [223 Ra]Ra nanomicelles co-loaded with radioactive gold nanoparticles ([198 Au]AuNPs). For this, we synthesize and characterize nanomicelles, as well as analyze some parameters, such as particle size, radioactivity emission, dynamic light scattering, and microscopic atomic force. [223 Ra]Ra nanomicelles co-loaded with [198 Au]AuNPs, with simultaneous alpha and beta emission, showed no instability, a mean particle size of 296 nm, and a PDI of 0.201 (±0.096). Furthermore, nanomicelles were tested in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay. We observed a significant increase in tumor cell death using combined alpha and beta therapy in the same formulation, compared with these components used alone. Together, these results show, for the first time, an efficient association between alpha and beta therapies, which could become a promising tool in the control of tumor progression.