Gold-Gold Sulfide nanoparticles intensify thermal effects of radio frequency electromagnetic field.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of thermotherapy resulting from the presence of gold-gold sulfide nanoshells (GGS) in radio frequency electromagnetic field (13.56 MHz) onthe survival of CT26 colon carcinoma cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: GGS was synthesized and after characterizing and determining the features, the RF-radiation effects on aquatic environments were determined by recording temperature changes. To investigate the biological effects, cell survival rate due to GGS usage at five different concentrations, each one with applying three different exposure times of RF field, at CT26 cells were evaluated by MTT assay.

RESULT: In the presence of 100 mg/L GGS and 5 min RF exposure, increasing in temperature was recorded more than 60°C. A significant difference in cell survival rate was observed, when both GGS and RF field were applied with each other or separately (p<0.001). The GGS concentration of 25mg/L with a 4 min exposure causes cell death with the efficiency of 80 percent more than using them separately.

CONCLUSION: The GGS as an available nanostructure (i.e. it's not expensive and can be synthesized simply) is an environmental friendly material which has the ability to cause damage to malignant cell effectively, by absorbing the non-invasive and deeply penetrating energy of RF field.