Nanoparticles offer promising potential in radiotherapy due to the radiosensitizing effect, which is their ability to produce radicals under radiation, potentially reducing the doses of irradiation required to treat patients. However, more than 15 years after the original publication by J. Hainfeld, these nano-objects have not yet found clinical applications. This can be primarily explained by inconsistent results depending on the type of nanoparticles and their functionalization, the type of cells studied, and the type of radiation used; results that are at odds with classical predictions of dose enhancement;  and the lack of multidisciplinary approaches. In that context, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the radiosensitizing effect by linking the physical (radiation-matter interaction), chemical (radical production), and biological (destruction of cellular targets by emitted radicals) phases. Our goal is then to move towards the synthesis of the most effective nanoparticle whose therapeutic potential can be tested in vitro and in cellulo.

In addition to this work focusing on the synthesis and reactivity of nanoparticles, we participate in various projects aimed at assessing the toxicity of commercial nanoparticles present in manufactured products, as well as identifying and quantifying radical species from different radiation sources.