Fred Currell, from the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen’s University in Belfast, explains.
“We’ve mapped out the energy dependence of the radio-sensitising effects of GNPs on plasmid DNA suspended in water and the results depart significantly from theoretical predictions in two ways. Firstly, the sensitisation is much larger than would be predicted and, secondly, it does not vary with energy as would be predicted from energy absorption coefficients. While these results still leave us with the mystery of how to accurately predict the effects of GNP-enhanced therapies, the fact that two groups working independently came to the same conclusions means we can trust the data. The next stage for us will be to design further experiments to improve our understanding of the processes involved. Ultimately we believe this work will help in the development of future therapeutics and look forward to gaining a better insight into GNPs and the role they can potentially play in cancer treatment.”Fred Currell, Queen’s University, Belfast
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