Silica-coated bismuth ferrite nanoparticles as novel radiosensitizers for cancer radiotherapy

Objective(s): Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment; however, tumor radioresistance remains a major limitation. The use of radiosensitizers offers a strategy to selectively enhance the sensitivity of malignant cells to ionizing radiation while minimizing toxicity to surrounding normal tissues. In this study, we investigated the radiosensitizing potential of silica-coated bismuth ferrite nanoparticles (BFO-Si NPs).Material and Methods: Bismuth ferrite nanoparticles (BFO NPs) were synthesized via the sol-gel method and coated with silica to produce BFO-Si NPs, and their morphology and structural properties were characterized using FESEM, EDS, HR-TEM, XRD, and DLS. Their cytotoxicity against human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) SK-MES-1 cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. To further assess their efficacy as radiosensitizers, cell viability, colony-forming capacity, and apoptotic responses following X-ray irradiation were evaluated.Results: The BFO-Si NPs exhibited uniform spherical geometry, a narrow size distribution, and good colloidal stability. They significantly increased apoptosis induction and decreased clonogenic survival of SK-MES-1 cells under 6 MV X-ray irradiation compared with radiation alone.Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the potential of silica-coated bismuth ferrite nanoparticles as safe and effective radiosensitizers, capable of enhancing radiotherapeutic outcomes in NSCLC.