NANOPARTICLES AND PREPARATION METHOD

1 . Nanoparticles of a metal chosen from among platinum, gold or bismuth, or one of the mixtures thereof, which are functionalised at their surface with functionalised polyethylene glycol.

2 . A nanoparticle preparation method for preparing nanoparticles of a metal chosen from among platinum, gold or bismuth, or a mixture thereof, the method comprising:

a) mixing a precursor of nanoparticles with a functionalised polyethylene glycol comprising at least one OH, COOH, NH 2 or SH functional group, in water; and

b) exposing the mixture to ionizing radiation.

3 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the ionizing radiation is chosen from gamma radiation deriving from a source of Cobalt 60 or Cesium 137, electrons or accelerated ions.

4 . A method according to claim 2 , i wherein the step of exposing extends over a period of time between 1 and 20 hours for a dose of 10 kGy applied with a source of gamma radiation from a Co 60 source having a dose rate of about 95.5 Gy/min in order to completely reduce 10 −3 mol/L −1 of platinum complex.

5 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the functionalised polyethylene is chosen from among Hydroxyl poly(ethylene glycol) [PEG-OH], Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine [PEG-2NH 2 ], α-hydroxyl-ω-carboxyl poly(ethylene glycol) [HO-PEG-COOH], and PEG-thiol [PEG-SH].

6 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the precursor is used in implementation in an amount ranging from 10 −4 to 10 −2 mol/L, in terms of molar concentration of the total mixture of step a) and/or the functionalised polyethylene glycol is used in implementation in an amount ranging from 10 −3 to 10 −1 mol/L, in terms of molar concentration of the total mixture of step a).

7 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein the molar ratio between the precursor and the functionalised polyethylene glycol is between 10 and 100.

8 . A method according to claim 2 , that is carried out in the absence of any solvent other than water.

9 . (canceled)

10 . (canceled)

11 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the period of time is between 1 and 2 hours.

12 . A nanoparticle according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalised polyethylenes are chosen from among Hydroxyl poly(ethylene glycol) [PEG-OH], Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine [PEG-2NH 2 ], α-hydroxyl-ω-carboxyl poly(ethylene glycol) [HO-PEG-COOH], and PEG-thiol [PEG-SH].

13 . Method for the treatment of cancers and tumours and/or for amplifying the effects of medical radiation used for the treatment of cancers or tumours, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a nanoparticle according to claim 1 .

14 . Method for the treatment of cancers and tumours and/or for amplifying the effects of medical radiation used for the treatment of cancers or tumours, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a nanoparticle obtainable by the method of claim 2 .

15 . Method for medical imaging for diagnostics in a subject in need thereof, comprising

administering the nanoparticle of claim 1 to the subject, and

performing the medical imaging on the subject.

16 . Method for medical imaging for diagnostics in a subject in need thereof, comprising

administering to the subject a nanoparticle obtainable by the method of claim 2 , and

performing the medical imaging on the subject.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the medical imaging is performed by computed tomography (CT).

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the medical imaging is performed by computed tomography (CT).

19 . The nanoparticles of claim 1 , wherein the functionalised polyethylene glycol comprises at least one OH, COOH, NH 2 or SH functional group.