X-Ray Triggered Hydrogen Therapy Enhances Cancer Treatment in Mice
- Authors
- Ying Wu, Lichao Su, Meng Yuan, Tao Chen, Jiamin Ye, Yifan Jiang, Jibin Song, Huanghao Yang
- Journal
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1002/anie.202100002
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Liver Cancer
- Body System
- Hepatic
TL;DR
Scientists created a new material that produces hydrogen inside the body when hit with X-rays, enhancing cancer treatment while reducing side effects.
Key Finding
X-ray triggered hydrogen-producing nanomaterials enhanced cancer radiotherapy effectiveness in mice while reducing inflammatory side effects compared to radiation treatment alone.
Summary
Researchers developed a special nanomaterial (tiny engineered particles) that produces hydrogen gas when exposed to X-rays used in cancer treatment. In mice with liver cancer, this material combined with radiation therapy was more effective at killing cancer cells and caused less inflammation than radiation alone. The material also helped doctors see the tumors better using imaging technology.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in mice only, so it cannot yet be applied to human cancer treatment. The results suggest that combining hydrogen gas generation with radiation therapy may be a promising approach, but human clinical trials would be needed to determine safety and effectiveness in people.
Abstract
To date, hydrogen (H2) therapy has received widespread attention. However, X-ray triggered sustainable H2-producing materials with controlled release for cancer treatment have not been reported. Herein, an X-ray triggered sustainable in situ H2 producing platform, Au NR-TiO2@ZnS:Cu,Co-A(Au-TiO2@ZnS), composed of Au-amorphous TiO2 nano-dumbbell-shaped heterostructure coated with long afterglow particles, was developed for cancer synergistic H2-radiotherapy. The mechanism of H2 production was verified by theoretical calculations and in vitro experiments. Changes in the apoptosis pathway caused by the synergistic effect of H2 and radiotherapy were reported. Guided by its excellent photoacoustic imaging capabilities, mice with orthotopic liver cancer achieved excellent therapeutic effects and low inflammatory side effects, suggesting that Au-TiO2@ZnS has promising application potential for cancer treatment and prognosis.