A Simulation Study on the Feasibility of Radio Enhancement Therapy with Calcium Tungstate and Hafnium Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Herein is a simulation study on the radio enhancement potential of calcium tungstate (CaWO4) and hafnium oxide (HfO2) nanoparticles (NPs) relative to gold (Au) NPs. The work utilizes the extensively studied Au NP as the "gold standard" to which the novel materials can be compared. All three materials were investigated in-silico with the software Penetration and Energy Loss of Positrons and Electrons (PENELOPE) developed by Francesc Salvat and distributed in the United States by the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center (RSICC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The aims are: (1) Do CaWO4 and HfO2 NPs function like Au?, and (2) if not, how else might they function to enhance radio therapy? Our investigations have found that HfO2 likely functions as Au, but not as effectively. CaWO4 likely does not function as Au, and we propose that CaWO4 may exhibit cancer killing traits through its intrinsic UV luminescence property.