Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology

Nano-carbons in radiotherapy: Dose enhancement effect

26^th International Conference on ADVANCED NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY

December 05-06, 2022 | Dubai, UAE

Sarah Ashmeg

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States Minor Outlying Islands

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nanomed Nanotechnol

Abstract:

One of the recent techniques receiving extensive attention and research is the utilization of nanotechnology to increase the radiation dose within the tumor. Several studies have focused on the use of metallic nanoparticles for enhancing the radiation dose, with gold nanoparticles taking the lead, owing to its biocompatibility and high Z value. Publications on the effect of nano-carbons as radio-sensitizers are limited. In this work, we study how “low-Z” carbon nanotubes can enhance the radiation dose when added to water and compare the effect to other nanocarbons. We hypothesize that the increased measured dose is due to the physical structure of the nanotubes, rather than the chemical properties. The study compares effect of carbon nanotubes to fullerene and laser-induced nano-carbons. The radiation dose was measured using an ionization chamber, in water phantoms, for x-ray beams produced by Varian Linacs. The dose enhancement ratio is defined as the ratio of the measured dose to water (+ nano-carbons) to the measured dose to water (only). The highest measured dose enhancement ratio is 9%, for 80 kVp. The effect is credited to the physical unique properties of the nanotubes, including high aspect ratio and curvature. Carbon nanotubes have already shown that they behave differently when exposed to low energy x-rays, in comparison to bulk material, due to their special morphological characteristics.