Photoactivation of heavy element nanoparticles in radiotherapy: toward more effective impact assessments

Posted on 15 March 2014

CEA LIST has participated in the Raphaelo research project (funded by the French National Research Agency), in which Monte Carlo simulation methods were used both to assess dose increase in the presence of gadolinium nanoparticles and to characterize the secondary electrons produced by the photoactivation of nanoparticles.

Injecting heavy element nanoparticles into a tumor and then applying low-energy radiation could offer new hope to people suffering from treatment-resistant brain tumors. Animal testing results have been promising; however, scientists do not yet fully understand the impact of the method, delaying its use in cancer treatment.

Some major advances were made in 2013: researchers were able to determine that cell membranes, like cell nuclei, were key targets for cell death.

The research continues, with a new resource at scientists’ disposal, the C++ version of the Penelope Monte Carlo code developed in 2014. The new code can integrate complex geometric modules involving millions of nanoparticles. The new code’s calculation capacity offers new simulation possibilities that will provide additional insights into the phenomena associated with photoactivation of heavy elements.