(198x) A Colorimetric Sensor for the Detection and Quantification of Therapeutic Levels of Ionizing Radiation

Radiotherapy is a medical procedure that uses high energy photons for tumor ablation. Evolution of radiotherapy has led to minimization of side effects in patients. To ensure an enhanced quality of life for the patient, there is a need to monitor and record the prescribed dose delivered to the patient. Conventional sensors are complex and require skilled operators to handle them. This complexity involved in existing sensors make their use limited in the clinic. To overcome these concerns, we have developed a colorimetric sensor that can detect therapeutic levels of ionizing radiation. Metal salt in the presence of radiation undergo reduction to form metal atoms. These metal atoms nucleate and grow to form stable nanoparticles which leads to the development of characteristic color depending on the shape and size of the particles. The resulting is color is quantified using Ultra-Violet Spectroscopy and used as an indicator for the delivered radiation dose. A hydrogel based sensor was designed to alleviate handling concerns. We successfully demonstrated the clinical applicability of the sensor by measuring the dose delivered to a canine patient undergoing radiotherapy. Our predictions match the prescribed dose making our sensor a potential candidate in the future to be used in routinely in the clinic.