Modeling gold nanoparticle radiosensitization using a clustering algorithm to quantitate DNA double‐strand breaks with mixed‐physics Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract

The stark difference in behavior for DSB yield when compared to cell dose highlights the importance of evaluating more complex radiobiological quantities rather than dose alone when evaluating the radiosensitization properties from metallic nanomaterials. The nucleus dose showed similar characteristics to the DSB yield demonstrating the ability of the method to predict DNA damage and its relationship with nuclear dose. The proposed method provides a way to explore the radiobiological mechanisms of radiation-induced DNA damages, and it aids to evaluate the physical radiosensitization properties of GNP-aided radiotherapy, which can be easily combined with radiochemical DSB quantitation in order to better understand the intricate DNA damage induction mechanisms that are involved in GNP-aided radiotherapy.