Image-guided treatment using an X-ray therapy unit and gold nanoparticles: Test of concept

Cindy Le Loirec (1) , Dominique Chambellan (2) , David Tisseur (3)

1 LM2S - Laboratoire Modélisation et Simulation de Systèmes
2 LIC - Laboratoire Instrumentation et Capteurs
3 DISC - Département Imagerie et Simulation pour le Contrôle

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have the potential to enhance the radiation dose locally in conjunction with kV X-rays used for radiation therapy. As for other radiotherapy modalities, the absorbed dose needs to be controlled. To do that, it is an advantage to know the distribution of GNPs. However, no effective imaging tool exists to determine the GNP distribution in vivo. Various approaches have been proposed to determine the concentration of GNPs and its distribution in a tumour and in other organs and tissues. X-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) is a promising imaging technique to do that. A new experimental device based on the XFCT technique allowing the in vivo control of GNP radiotherapy treatments is proposed. As a test of concept, experimental acquisitions and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to determine the performance that a XFCT detector has to fulfil.

Keywords: Radiographic Image Enhancement; Metal Nanoparticles; Equipment Failure Analysis; Contrast Media; Theranostic Nanomedicine; Sensitivity and Specificity; Reproducibility of Results; Image-Guided; Radiotherapy

Domains: Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]; Nuclear medicine; Imaging

Cindy Le Loirec, Dominique Chambellan, David Tisseur. Image-guided treatment using an X-ray therapy unit and gold nanoparticles: Test of concept. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2016, 169 (1-4), pp.331-335. ⟨10.1093/rpd/ncw013⟩. ⟨cea-01845386⟩