Doped silica fibre thermoluminescence measurements of radiation dose in the use of 223Ra

Bradley; S F Abdul Sani; A S Siti Shafiqah; S M Collins; R P Hugtenburg; H A Abdul Rashid; Nurul Najua Zulkepely; M J Maah

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.04.019

Doped silica fibre thermoluminescence measurements of radiation dose in the use of ²²³Ra

Appl Radiat Isot. 2018 Aug:138:65-72. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.04.019. Epub 2017 Apr 14.

Authors

Bradley¹, S F Abdul Sani², A S Siti Shafiqah³, S M Collins⁴, R P Hugtenburg⁵, H A Abdul Rashid⁶, Nurul Najua Zulkepely², M J Maah⁷

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK; Sunway University, Institute for Healthcare Development, 46150 PJ, Malaysia. Electronic address: d.a.bradley@surrey.ac.uk.
² Sunway University, Institute for Healthcare Development, 46150 PJ, Malaysia.
³ Department of Physics, Kuliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Malaysia.
⁴ National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, England.
⁵ Department of Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg UHB and School of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
⁶ Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, 2010 Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PMID: 28427834
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2017.04.019

Abstract

Using tailor-made sub-mm dimension doped-silica fibres, thermoluminescent dosimetric studies have been performed for α-emitting sources of ²²³RaCl₂ (the basis of the Bayer Healthcare product Xofigo®). The use of ²²³RaCl₂ in the palliative treatment of bone metastases resulting from late-stage castration-resistant prostate cancer focuses on its favourable uptake in metabolically active bone metastases. Such treatment benefits from the high linear energy transfer (LET) and associated short path length (<100µm) of the α-particles emitted by ²²³Ra and its decay progeny. In seeking to provide for in vitro dosimetry of the α-particles originating from the ²²³Ra decay series, investigation has been made of the TL yield of various forms of Ge-doped SiO₂ fibres, including photonic crystal fibre (PCF) collapsed, PCF uncollapsed, flat and single-mode fibres. Irradiations of the fibres were performed at the UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Notable features are the considerable sensitivity of the dosimeters and an effective atomic number Z_eff approaching that of bone, the glass fibres offering the added advantage of being able to be placed directly into liquid. The outcome of present research is expected to inform development of doped fibre dosimeters of versatile utility, including for applications as detailed herein.

Keywords: (223)Ra; Alpha particles; Dosimetry; Silica fibre; Thermoluminescence.