Spectral computed tomography-guided radiotherapy of osteosarcoma utilizing BiOI nanosheets

As an aggressive malignant bone tumor, osteosarcoma (OS) is usually found in children and adolescents. Computed tomography (CT) is an important tool for the clinical evaluation of osteosarcoma, but limits to low diagnostic specificity due to single parameters of traditional CT and modest signal-to-noise ratio of clinical iodinated contrast agents. As one kind of spectral CT, dual-energy CT (DECT), with the advantage of a provision of multi-parameter information, makes it possible to acquire the best signal-to-noise ratio image, accurate detection, as well as imaging-guided therapy of bone tumors. Hereby, we synthesized BiOI nanosheets (BiOI NSs) as a DECT contrast agent with superior imaging capability compared to iodine agents for clinical detection of OS. Meanwhile, the synthesized BiOI NSs with great biocompatibility is able to achieve effective radiotherapy (RT) by enhancing X-ray dose deposition at the tumor site, leading to DNA damage, which in turn inhibits tumor growth. This study offers a promising new avenue for DECT imaging-guided treatment of OS.

Automated summary

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone tumor commonly found in children and adolescents. Dual-energy CT (DECT) is a promising tool for accurately detecting and guiding the treatment of osteosarcoma. In this study, BiOI nanosheets were synthesized as a superior DECT contrast agent compared to iodine agents for clinical detection of osteosarcoma. In addition, the synthesized BiOI nanosheets demonstrated good biocompatibility and enhanced X-ray dose deposition at the tumor site, leading to DNA damage and inhibition of tumor growth. This research offers a promising new avenue for DECT imaging-guided treatment of osteosarcoma.