Resumen
Due to the normal tissue toxicity induced by standard therapeutic options such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, alternative solutions are being explored. Nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles, can help reduce side effects by increasing targeted dose to the tumor as well as act as a drug delivery system. Many nano-based systems are tested in a two-dimensional monolayer in the lab, which is not representative of the complex tumor microenvironment. Towards an accelerated translation to the clinic, use of nanomaterials, like the radio-sensitizing gold nanoparticles, were tested in three-dimensional spheroids, which exhibit many properties present in a real tumor such as the extracellular matrix, necrotic cores, and nutrient gradients. This work paves the way for more accurate experimentation in the lab that is more indicative of a real tumor response, leading to a higher chance of success in future clinical studies and clinical treatment.