A Novel Nanocomposite Material for Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimetry

Nano Lett. 2022 Feb 23;22(4):1566-1572. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c04384. Epub 2022 Feb 8.

Abstract

Radiotherapy is a well-established and important treatment for cancer tumors, and advanced technologies can deliver doses in complex three-dimensional geometries tailored to each patient's specific anatomy. A 3D dosimeter, based on optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), could provide a high accuracy and reusable tool for verifying such dose delivery. Nanoparticles of an OSL material embedded in a transparent matrix have previously been proposed as an inexpensive dosimeter, which can be read out using laser-based methods. Here, we show that Cu-doped LiF nanocubes (nano-LiF:Cu) are excellent candidates for 3D OSL dosimetry owing to their high sensitivity, dose linearity, and stability at ambient conditions. We demonstrate a scalable synthesis technique producing a material with the attractive properties of a single dosimetric trap and a single near-ultraviolet emission line well separated from visible-light stimulation sources. The observed transparency and light yield of silicone sheets with embedded nanocubes hold promise for future 3D OSL-based dosimetry.

Keywords: 3D Dosimetry; Flow Synthesis; Nanoparticles; Optically Stimulated Luminescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Luminescence
  • Nanocomposites*
  • Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimetry* / methods