Hydrogel materials as radiation dosimeter for 3D dose distribution mapping

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THE NATURE OF THE WORK TO BE DONE: Radiation therapy, which destroys cancer cells and shrinks tumors in a target area, is a routine clinical practice. Traditionally, radiation treatments have been carried out intwo dimensions (i.e. width and height). Rapid advances in imaging techniques for solid tumor such as computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, allowed the use of three-dimension (3D; width, height, and depth) radiation therapywhere more precise targeting of a target tumorwith radiation sources is possible. Despite the advances made to locate the tumor and to deliver therapeutic radiation in complex 3D target volume with high conformityand precision, measurement of 3D dose distribution has not been matched. The goal of this CRD proposal is to design radiation dose measuring kits (dosimeters) from naturally occurring and synthetic hydrogel materials. WHY AND TO WHOM THE RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT: Current radiation treatment is highlyaugmented bythe advances made in CT and MRIimaging. Once the target is identified then precise amounts of radiation is deposited to the target area. However, exactlyhow much of the deposited radiation is distributed in the target is unknown. This demands the design of dosimeters (radiation dose measuring kits) which can accuratelyand preciselymeasure 3D absorbed dose distributions. Therefore the proposed research is important to clinical radiation facilities. The lack of measuring dose distribution leaves patients exposed to increased risk of systematic and random errors in therapy. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOME: We anticipate the proposed research to address the challenges in the design of clinically-relevant dosimeters. BENEFITS TO CANADA: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Canada. The Canadian cancer Societyestimates that everyyear some 174,000 patients are diagnosed with Cancer. Some of these patients will ultimatelyundergo radiation therapy. The need for dosimeters that accuratelymeasure deposited radiation is urgent. Having this technologywill allow the collaborating private companyto be successful in marketing the product and creating jobs.