Integration of Fricke gel dosimetry with Ag nanoparticles for experimental dose enhancement determination in theranostics

The use and implementation of nanoparticles in medicine has grown exponentially in the last twenty years. Their main applications include drug delivery, theranostics, tissue engineering and magneto function. Dosimetry techniques can take advantage of inorganic nanoparticles properties and their combination with gel dosimetry techniques could be used as a first step for their later inclusion in radio-diagnostics or radiotherapy treatments. The present study presents preliminary results of properly synthesized and purified silver nanoparticles integration with Fricke gel dosimeters. Used nanoparticles presented mean sizes ranging from 2 to 20 nm, with a lognormal distribution. Xylenol orange concentration in Fricke gel dosimeter was adjust in order to allow sample's optical readout, accounting nanoparticles plasmon. Dose enhancement was assessed irradiating dosimeters setting X-ray beams energies below and above silver K-edge. Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate the dose enhancement in the experiments and compare with the trend obtained in the experimental results.