Dosimetry and Radiobiology for Laser Induced Proton Beams
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Mathematics and Physics
Abstract
Laser-generated ion beams have the potential to be used for future cancer therapies as they may provide compact, less expensive alternative sources to those currently used for proton and carbon-ion therapies. Ion-beam therapies have considerable advantages for treating tumours relative to high energy X-rays due to the defined deposition of energy via a Bragg Peak. This PhD project forms part of a large, EPSRC-funded collaborative effort aimed to develop laser-generated ion beams with properties suitable for future use in therapy, and test the consequences of exposure to these beams in normal and tumour cells. Laser produced ion beams deliver radiation dose at extremely high dose-rates in comparison to conventional sources and, in addition to exploring the radiobiology of this regime, a key goal of the PhD research will be to define effective approaches for proton and carbon dosimetry under these extreme conditions.
Motivated by the potential for future clinical applications, current experimental activities employing laser-driven sources are devoted to developing a methodology for carrying out meaningful biological assays in a laser-plasma environment , where doses of the order of several Gys can be delivered in a single irradiation. The development of appropriate approaches to dosimetry is a key challenge to be faced in the course of this research. Since the stability and reproducibility of laser-driven ion sources is still not ideal, for a correct estimate of the irradiation conditions, the dose must be measured reliably in the course of every irradiation event, ideally in a non-invasive manner. We will therefore devote effort to the appropriate calibration of film dosimeters in the specific energy and dose range of relevance to the laser-driven ion sources. This will include the validation of customised radio chromic films, as well as the use of alanine pellets and CR39 particle track detectors. In addition to these approaches to relative dosimetry, the project will aim to test the effectiveness in a laser-plasma environment of tools for absolute dosimetry such as Faraday cups and ion calorimeters.
Motivated by the potential for future clinical applications, current experimental activities employing laser-driven sources are devoted to developing a methodology for carrying out meaningful biological assays in a laser-plasma environment , where doses of the order of several Gys can be delivered in a single irradiation. The development of appropriate approaches to dosimetry is a key challenge to be faced in the course of this research. Since the stability and reproducibility of laser-driven ion sources is still not ideal, for a correct estimate of the irradiation conditions, the dose must be measured reliably in the course of every irradiation event, ideally in a non-invasive manner. We will therefore devote effort to the appropriate calibration of film dosimeters in the specific energy and dose range of relevance to the laser-driven ion sources. This will include the validation of customised radio chromic films, as well as the use of alanine pellets and CR39 particle track detectors. In addition to these approaches to relative dosimetry, the project will aim to test the effectiveness in a laser-plasma environment of tools for absolute dosimetry such as Faraday cups and ion calorimeters.
People |
ORCID iD |
Marco Borghesi (Primary Supervisor) | |
Kathryn Polin (Student) |
Publications
Polin Kathryn
(2021)
Ion dosimetry for radiobiology experiments employing laser-accelerated beams
Polin K
(2019)
Irradiation and dosimetry arrangement for a radiobiological experiment employing laser-accelerated protons
in Journal of Instrumentation
Milluzzo G
(2020)
Dosimetry of laser-accelerated carbon ions for cell irradiation at ultra-high dose rate
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Chaudhary P
(2023)
Cellular irradiations with laser-driven carbon ions at ultra-high dose rates.
in Physics in medicine and biology
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EP/N509334/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2020 | |||
1649823 | Studentship | EP/N509334/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/11/2019 | Kathryn Polin |
Description | Within my research, I have been testing and assessing various methods of dosimetry for usage with laser-accelerated ion beams. Through experiments carried out in various different particle beam facilities, and through using different dosimetric methods, I am working towards developing a clearer understanding of which dosimetry tools are best suited for different experimental scenarios (such as for specific ion energy and dose ranges). |
Exploitation Route | Achieving accurate and reliable dosimetry methods is crucial in fully understanding the mechanisms of laser-driven ion beams. Therefore, as my research is based in developing dosimetry methods and their applicability for different ion-beam scenarios, the findings from my research can be used by teams working in this area, who will inevitably require reliable dosimetry. |
Sectors | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Collaboration with LNS - INFN |
Organisation | National Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Department | National Laboratories of the South |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provision of expertise in laser-acceleration, proposal of calibration experiments. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of beam time, expertise in Montecarlo modelling and dosimetry |
Impact | Several presentations at conferences. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Collaboration with National Physical Laboratory |
Organisation | National Physical Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provision of expertise in laser-acceleration, participation to facility experiments |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervision of the project, specialized training |
Impact | Several poster presentations. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Poster Presentation at 2016 ELI Summer School (ELISS 2016) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Attended the 2016 ELI Summer School (ELISS) on Extreme Light Infrastructure. I presented a poster at this summer school, and developed many new professional connections. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Poster Presentation at 2016 NPL PPRIG Proton Therapy Physics Workshop 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I attended and presented a poster at the PPRIG workshop, held at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Dec 2016. This workshop was valuable to my research as it covered relevant topics to my research such as absolute dosimetry of proton beams and radiobiology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Poster Presentation at 2017 Christmas Meeting of the High Power Laser (HPL) Community |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Christmas Meeting conference based in Abingdon School and The Cosener's House, Oxford. Approximately 200 people were in attendence, and I made several new professional connections while attending. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Poster Presentation at 44th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics by Miss Kathryn Polin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster Presentation by Miss Kathryn Polin on "Investigating the response of Gafchromic EBT film to high LET radiation" (K. Polin, D. Doria, C. Scullion, G. Scandiano, G.A.P.Cirrone, R. Manna, G. Milluzzo, G. Petringa, F. Romano, V. Scuderi, M. Borghesi) at the 44th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics held in Belfast on 26-30 June 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.eps.org/m/event_details.asp?id=866254 |
Description | Poster presentation at ICFDT5 Conference 2018, Italy - Kathryn Polin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Poster Presentation by Miss Kathryn Polin on "Irradiation and Dosimetry Arrangement for a Radiobiological Experiment Employing Laser-Accelerated Protons" (K. Polin, D. Doria, L. Romagnani, P. Chaudhary, C. Maiorino, G. Milluzzo, G. Petringa, F. Romano, V. Scuderi and M. Borghesi) at the ICFDT5 conference held in INFN-LNF, Italy on 3-5 October 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://agenda.infn.it/event/15217/ |
Description | Poster presentation at IOP Plasma Physics Conference 2018, Belfast - Kathryn Polin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster presentation on : "Investigating the response of gafchromic EBT3 films to high LET radiation" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://plasma2018.iopconfs.org/poster_programme |