Nuclear reactions for protontherapy intensification

0539438 - ÚJF 2022 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Torrisi, L. - Cutroneo, Mariapompea - Torrisi, Alfio - Havránek, Vladimír
Nuclear reactions for protontherapy intensification.
Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B. Roč. 486, JAN (2021), s. 28-36. ISSN 0168-583X. E-ISSN 1872-9584
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA19-02482S
Institutional support: RVO:61389005
Keywords : nuclear reaction * p, alpha reaction * lithium * boron * fluorine * photontherapy
OECD category: Nuclear physics
Impact factor: 1.279, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2020.11.002

This paper presents some experimental results about the Li-7, B-11 and F-19 (p, alpha) nuclear reactions developed using proton beams at energy below 3 MeV in order to be applied to protontherapy. The energy released by proton beams during radiotherapy acts mainly at the end of the proton path in the biological medium, where it increases at high density inside the tumor. At this depth, it is possible to inject in the tumor compounds containing Li, B and F to generate energetic alpha particles from nuclear reactions. At the proton Bragg peak position it is possible to produce 1-8 MeV alpha particles, which enhance the energy density deposited in the tumor increasing the probability to damage the cells. Thanks to the higher relative biological efficiency of the alpha particles with respect to protons, it is expected that the alpha synergic particles defeat the tumor at lower doses.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0317182