Tailoring Silica-Based Nanoscintillators for Peroxynitrite-Potentiated Nitrosative Stress in Postoperative Radiotherapy of Colon Cancer

The development of a manageable reactive nitrogen species-potentiated nitrosative stress induction system for cancer therapy has remained elusive. Herein, tailored silica-based nanoscintillators were reported for low-dosage X-ray boosting for the in situ formation of highly cytotoxic peroxynitrite (ONOO^-). Significantly, cellular nitrosative stress revolving around the intracellular protein tyrosine nitration through ONOO^- pathways was explored. High-energy X-rays were directly deposited on silica-based nanoscintillators, forming the concept of an open source and a reduced expenditure-aggravated DNA damage strategy. Moreover, the resultant ONOO^-, along with the released nitric oxide, not only can act as "oxygen suppliers" to combat tumor hypoxia but also can induce mitochondrial damage to initiate caspase-mediated apoptosis, further improving the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy. Thus, the design of advanced nanoscintillators with specific enhanced nitrosative stress offers promising potential for postoperative radiotherapy of colon cancer.