TTC-Pluronic 3D radiochromic gel dosimetry of ionizing radiation

This work reports the first results obtained using a new 3D radiochromic gel dosimeter. The dosimeter is an aqueous physical gel matrix made of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic F-127, PEO-PPO-PEO) doped with a representative of tetrazolium salts,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics in medicine & biology 2017-06, Vol.62 (14), p.5668-5690
Main Authors: Kozicki, Marek, Kwiatos, Klaudia, Kadlubowski, Slawomir, Dudek, Mariusz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride
3D dosimetry
3D radiochromic gel
Gels
ionising radiation
leucomalachite green
Pluronic
Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry
Propylene Glycols - chemistry
Radiometry - methods
radiotherapy dosimetry
Temperature
Water - chemistry
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Summary:This work reports the first results obtained using a new 3D radiochromic gel dosimeter. The dosimeter is an aqueous physical gel matrix made of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic F-127, PEO-PPO-PEO) doped with a representative of tetrazolium salts, 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). There were several reasons for the choice of Pluronic as a gel forming substrate: (i) the high degree of transparency and colourlessness; (ii) the possibility of gel dosimeter preparation at both high and low temperatures due to the phase behaviour of Pluronic; (iii) the broad temperature range over which the TTC-Pluronic dosimeter is stable; and (iv) the non-toxicity of Pluronic. A reason for the choice of TTC was its ionising radiation-induced transformation to water-insoluble formazan, which was assumed to impact beneficially on the spatial stability of the dose distribution. If irradiated, the TTC-Pluronic gels become red but transparent in the irradiated part, while the non-irradiated part remains crystal clear. The best obtained composition is characterised by  500 Gy and a dynamic dose response much greater than 500 Gy (7.5% TTC, 25% Pluronic F-127, 50 mmol dm−3 tetrakis). Temporal and spatial stability studies revealed that the TTC-Pluronic gels (7.5% TTC, 25% Pluronic F-127) were stable for more than one week. The addition of compounds boosting the gels' dose performance caused deterioration of the gels' temporal stability but did not impact the stability of the 3D dose distribution. The proposed method of preparation allows for the repeatable manufacture of the gels. There were no differences observed between gels irradiated fractionally and non-fractionally. The TTC-Pluronic dose response might be affected by the radiation source dose rate-this, however, requires further examination.
ISSN:0031-9155
1361-6560
1361-6560
DOI:10.1088/1361-6560/aa77eb