Activity of Psoralen-Functionalized Nanoscintillators against Cancer Cells upon X-ray Excitation

We report development of a nanoparticle-based, X-ray-activated anticancer “nanodrug” composed of yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoscintillators, a fragment of the HIV-1 TAT peptide, and psoralen. In this formulation, X-ray radiation is absorbed by the Y2O3 nanoscintillators, which then emit UVA light. Absorption of UVA photons by nanoparticle-tethered psoralen has the potential to cross-link adenine and thymine residues in DNA. UVA-induced cross-linking by free psoralen upon activation with UVA light has previously been shown to cause apoptosis in vitro and an immunogenic response in vivo.