Integrin Targeted Gold Nanoparticles Potentiate Cancer Radiation Sensitivity: Synthesizing and modifying gold nanorods to target cancer cells.

RGD-PEG-GNRs facilitate specific targeting of integrin αvβ6 that is selectively overexpressed in head and neck cancer, including HSC3. The GNRs were internalized to endosome and lysosomal vesicles through attaching to the cytoplasmic membrane. We further showed that facilitating RGD-PEG-GNR uptake in cancer cells significantly enhanced their radiosensitivity and thus increased DNA damage. In vivo ...