Evaluation of low-kV energy X-ray radiation effect on breast cancer cells incubated with gold nanoparticles capped with aminolevulinic acid, methyl aminolevulinate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have unique properties, including size-dependent optical and electronic characteristics, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization, making them attractive for various diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The goal of this work was to verify the potential application of gold nanoparticles capped with aminolevulinic acid (ALA), methyl aminolevulinate (MALA), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in low-energy X-ray diagnostics and therapy of breast cancer. ALA and MALA induce the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in cancer cells. PpIX, in turn, can be excited by Cherenkov radiation, producing reactive oxygen species after energy or electron transfer from the triplet excited state of PpIX to molecular oxygen, which induces cell death by apoptosis or necrosis. The results indicated that ALA and MALA nanoparticles promoted reduced cell viability by approximately 20% with X-ray irradiation at an energy level of 35 kV for 5 minutes. Breast cancer cells possess GABA receptors, allowing for targeted effects by GABANPs, which can enhance contrast and improve diagnostic potential. GABAAuNPs also demonstrated decreased cell viability in ~10% following X-ray irradiation, making them a promising material for both breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.