Improving Radiotherapy Efficacy Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: A Study on the Effects of Crystallite Size and Concentration

This study aims to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy for cancer using curcumin-doped iron oxide, focusing on the effects of crystal size and concentration. Pure iron oxide doped with curcumin was prepared using the co-precipitation method, and the structural properties of the resulting compounds were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the crystal structure of the samples before and after doping matched the crystal structure of iron oxide (Fe2O3) in the two types, magnetite (γ-Fe₂O₃) and hematite (α-Fe2O3). An increase in crystal size was also observed after doping with curcumin, indicating an improvement and transformation in crystalline properties as a result of the co-formulation. To estimate the effectiveness of the treatment, a simulation using MATLAB was employed. The results demonstrated a positive relationship between crystal size and increased treatment effectiveness. Notable increases in radiotherapy effectiveness were recorded, with samples S1 (65.7), S2 (100.6), and S3 (81). Additionally, the curcumin-loaded nanoparticles showed increases in effectiveness of S1 (21), S2 (38.1), and S3 (28.7). These results indicate that combining curcumin with magnetic iron oxide can enhance the properties of iron oxide and improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy for cancer, opening new avenues for developing innovative cancer treatment strategies. Keyword: Radiotherapy, Iron oxide nanoparticle, Curcumin, MATLAB.