Revolutionizing radiotherapy: gold nanoparticles with polyphenol coating as novel enhancers in breast cancer cells—an in vitro study

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with over 1 million new cases and around 400,000 deaths annually worldwide. This makes it a significant and costly global health challenge. Standard treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often used after mastectomy, show varying effectiveness based on the cancer subtype. Combining these treatments can improve outcomes, though radiotherapy faces limitations such as radiation resistance and low selectivity for malignant cells. Nanotechnologies, especially metallic nanoparticles (NPs), hold promise for enhancing radiotherapy. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are particularly notable due to their high atomic number, which enhances radiation damage through the photoelectric effect. Studies shown that AuNPs can act as effective radiosensitizers, improving tumor damage during radiotherapy increasing the local radiation dose delivered. Traditional AuNPs synthesis methods involve harmful chemicals and extreme conditions, posing health risks. Green synthesis methods using plant extracts offer a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative. This study investigates the synthesis of AuNPs using Laurus nobilis leaf extract and their potential as radiosensitizers in breast carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7). These cells were exposed to varying doses of X-ray irradiation, and the study assessed cell viability, morphological changes and DNA damage. The results showed that green-synthesized AuNPs significantly enhanced the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy at lower radiation doses, indicating their potential as a valuable addition to breast cancer treatment.