Radiocatalyst for Microbial Control and Radiation Protection

An experimental evaluation of a gold radiocatalyst was conducted to evaluate their ability to improve the hydrolysis of water into reactive oxygen species (ROS) when exposed to radiation. This work was performed to evaluate the use of radiocatalyst for radiation protection and microbial control. Radiocatalysts are metal particles that are used in radiation cancer therapy. These nanoparticles can be directly injected into tumors or functionalized to enter tumor cells via the blood stream. When they are exposed to radiation they produce ROS. ROS are water hydrolysis products such as OH-, O-, O3, H2O2. This paper describes the results of an investigation that evaluated nanoparticles that are reactive to X-rays, gamma rays and radioactive nuclei. 1.8 nm gold nanoparticles functionalized with citrate were evaluated. Testing used X-rays, gamma rays and reactive nuclei. The results show that radiocatalysts can improve the radiation absorption of water by about four times and can be used to kill bacteria at radiation intensity levels are above 1 Gy. Results of this work are relevant to the design of water radiation barriers, the protection of spacecraft during dormancy periods and the treatment of antibiotic resistant bacteria.