The importance of nanoparticles for development of radioprotective agents

Abstract

Radiation, ionizing or non-ionizing radiation affects living forms in a variety of ways; it has helped life forms evolve, provided a source of energy and is an invaluable tool in modern medicine while its inadvertent use results in serious radiation induced damages For exploiting the complete beneficial use of radiation, the risks of radiation exposures in a biological system are to be restricted which may be achieved through the use of radioprotectors which are any medicinal agent or device when applied prior to or during radiation exposure prevents or limits radiation injury at the molecular, cellular, tissue or organ system level Recently nanoparticles are gaining interest in the field of radioprotection as nanoparticles of various metal oxides were found to possess antioxidant properties and several of them have the ability to offer protection against radiation damages The present review details on the recent advances in the research on the use of nanoparticles for development of radioprotective agents.