Internalization of iron nanoparticles by tumor associated macrophages for the improvement of tumor treatment

International audienceRationale: An alternative approach for the improvement of radiotherapy treatments consists in increasing differentially the radiation dose between tumors and healthy tissues using nanoparticles (NPs) that have been beforehand internalized into the tumor. These high-Z NPs can be photo-activated by monochromatic synchrotron X-rays, leading to a local dose enhancement delivered to the neighboring tumor cells [1]. This enhancement is due to secondary and Auger electrons expelled from the NPs by the radiations. In order to carry the NPs into the tumor center, macrophages are currently under study for their phagocytosis and diapedesis abilities [2]. In this study, we characterized J774A.1 macrophages’ internalization kinetic and subcellular distribution