Gadolinium-based nanoparticles as sensitizing agents to carbon ions in head and neck tumor cells

Gadolinium based nanoparticles AGuIX® combined with photon or carbon ions exposure increase irreversible DNA double-strand breaks leading to cell death in HNSCC cells. The association AGuIX®/ carbon ions display a better efficiency compared to AGuIX®/photons. This enhanced radiation effect of heavy ions may provide a promising alternative in hadrontherapy.222