Towards quasi-biological nanodosimetry

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of using thermoluminescent phosphors to develop nanodosimetry tools that mimic biological radiation responses, aiding in the assessment of radiation quality for therapeutic charged particle beams.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of quasi-biological nanodosimetry based on thermoluminescence, linking physical energy deposition patterns with biological DNA damage.

Findings

Physical and biological energy deposition patterns show conceptual parallels.

Correlation between physical and radiobiological parameters observed experimentally.

Proposes thermoluminescence as a basis for nanodosimetry in radiation therapy.

Abstract

The increasing utilization of charged particle beams for therapeutic purposes requires designing novel detector systems which shall be capable of assessing radiation quality for a diversity of ion species. It is shown that the pattern of energy deposition in thermoluminescent phosphors and biological tissue contains conceptual parallels. The correlation of physical and radiobiological parameters observed experimentally for specific endpoints (single- and double-strand breaks of DNA) opens the possibility of realizing successfully quasi-biological solid-state nanodosimetry on the basis of thermoluminescence.