Development and characterisation of a high-sensitivity X-ray CT polymer gel dosimeter

Jonathon Lexor Lumley; Pejman Rowshanfarzad; Mounir Ibrahim; Mario Djukelic; David J Henry

doi:10.1007/s13246-025-01586-2

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Development and characterisation of a high-sensitivity X-ray CT polymer gel dosimeter

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Development and characterisation of a high-sensitivity X-ray CT polymer gel dosimeter

Jonathon Lexor Lumley, Pejman Rowshanfarzad, Mounir Ibrahim, Mario Djukelic and David J Henry

Physical and engineering sciences in medicine

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-025-01586-2

PMID: 40632460

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Abstract

Sensitivity

X-ray CT

Polymer gel dosimetry

Optimisation

PASSAG-N

Polymer gel dosimeters have shown potential for clinical 3D dosimetry; however, their use has been limited due to low sensitivity and reliance on scarcely available magnetic resonance imaging. This study aimed to optimise a PASSAG (Poly AMPS Sodium Salt And Gelatin) polymer gel dosimeter for X-ray computed tomography, to enhance its clinical feasibility. The total monomer concentration was increased to improve sensitivity, and different cosolvents were tested to enhance the limited solubility of N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide, the crosslinker. n-propanol was identified as the optimal cosolvent, allowing for an 18.3% monomer concentration, 30% crosslinker to total comonomer mass gel, at a 3:7 cosolvent-to-water ratio. The optimised formulation, PASSAG-N (PASSAG- n-propanol), consisted of 54.4% w/w deionised water, 23.3% n-propanol, 12.8% 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt, 5.5% N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide, 4.0% gelatin, and 0.089% (4.65mM) tetrakis (hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride. The dosimeter was irradiated within a standard timeframe to assess its sensitivity, and theoretical calculations confirmed its equivalence to water, soft tissue, brain, and muscle. Compared to a cosolvent-free formulation, PASSAG-N exhibited a 250% increase in Hounsfield unit (HU) change, demonstrating enhanced sensitivity. The optimised gel showed a linear response over a 1-12 Gy dose range, with an average sensitivity of 1.072 ± 0.041 HU Gy⁻¹ and a dose resolution ≤ 0.31 Gy, making it a promising alternative for clinical X-ray computed tomography-based dosimetry. This study highlights the potential of PASSAG-N as a highly sensitive and potentially practical polymer gel dosimeter for clinical applications.

Details

Title: Development and characterisation of a high-sensitivity X-ray CT polymer gel dosimeter
Authors/Creators: Jonathon Lexor Lumley - The University of Western Australia
Pejman Rowshanfarzad - The University of Western Australia
Mounir Ibrahim - Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Mario Djukelic - Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
David J Henry - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Publication Details: Physical and engineering sciences in medicine
Publisher: Springer Nature
Number of pages: 13
Identifiers: 991005794756307891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics; Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.147 Prostate Cancer; 1.147.289 Radiotherapy Innovations
Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Biomedical; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
ESI research areas: Engineering