A review of recent advances in the modeling of nanoparticle radiosensitization with the Geant4-DNA toolkit

Taheri, Ali; Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin; Moradi, F.; Bradley, D.A.

doi:10.1016/j.radphyschem.2023.111146

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 149 publications

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“…This trend in electron fluence ratio reduction for longer and thinner GNRs likely stems from their asymmetric geometry, where increased depth for secondary electrons in longer nanorods may result in fewer electrons escaping from the GNR surface before losing energy within the material. Moreover, while the literature extensively discusses the impact of nanoparticle size for spherical gold nanoparticles, revealing that more gold atoms increase the number of secondary electrons (Taheri et al 2023), our study also aligns with the existing literature on larger-sized GNRs. It emphasizes that larger nanorods, characterized by a lower SA:V, show greater electron fluence ratios, consistent with the data from the literature on spherical gold nanoparticles.…”

Section: Impact Of Gnr Geometrysupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Several factors, including the shape, size, concentration, localization, composition, and distribution of nanoparticles, along with the radiation properties and characteristics of the target tumor cell, may influence the RS effect. These details have been extensively discussed in our recent review paper on this topic (Taheri et al 2023). Previous NPRS studies have predominantly concentrated on spherical gold nanoparticles (Chithrani et al 2006, Li et al 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The TOPAS (TOol for PArticle Simulation) software (Perl et al 2012) is a user-friendly interface based on Geant4 and specifically designed for medical physics applications, including radiation therapy, medical imaging, and radiobiology. The applications of TS simulation codes in NPRS studies were broadly discussed in our two previous review articles by Moradi et al (2021b) and Taheri et al (2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A simulation study on the radiosensitization properties of gold nanorods

Taheri,

Khandaker,

Moradi

et al. 2024

Phys. Med. Biol.

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Objective: Gold nanorods (GNRs) have emerged as versatile nanoparticles with unique properties, holding promise in various modalities of cancer treatment through drug delivery and photothermal therapy. In the rapidly evolving field of nanoparticle radiosensitization (NPRS) for cancer therapy, this study assessed the potential of gold nanorods as radiosensitizing agents by quantifying the key features of NPRS, such as secondary electron emission and dose enhancement, using Monte Carlo simulations.Approach: Employing the TOPAS track structure code, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the radiosensitization behavior of spherical gold nanoparticles and gold nanorods. We systematically explored the impact of nanorod geometry (in particular size and aspect ratio) and orientation on secondary electron emission and deposited energy ratio, providing validated results against previously published simulations.Main Results: Our findings demonstrate that gold nanorods exhibit comparable secondary electron emission to their spherical counterparts. Notably, nanorods with smaller surface-area-to-volume ratios (SA:V) and alignment with the incident photon beam proved to be more efficient radiosensitizing agents, showing superiority in emitted electron fluence. However, in the microscale, the deposited energy ratio (DER) was not markedly influenced by the SA:V of the nanorod. Additionally, our findings revealed that the geometry of gold nanoparticles has a more significant impact on the emission of M-shell Auger electrons (with energies below 3.5 keV) than on higher-energy electrons.Significance: This research investigated the radiosensitization properties of gold nanorods, positioning them as promising alternatives to the more conventionally studied spherical gold nanoparticles in the context of cancer research. With increasing interest in multimodal cancer therapy, our findings have the potential to contribute valuable insights into the perspective of gold nanorods as effective multipurpose agents for synergistic photothermal therapy and radiotherapy. Future directions may involve exploring alternative metallic nanorods as well as further optimizing the geometry and coating materials, opening new possibilities for more effective cancer treatments.

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Section: Impact Of Gnr Geometrysupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A simulation study on the radiosensitization properties of gold nanorods

Taheri,

Khandaker,

Moradi

et al. 2024

Phys. Med. Biol.

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Radiation shielding assessment for interventional radiology personnel: Geant4 dosimetry of lead-free compositions

Moradi,

Jalili,

Saraee

et al. 2024

Biomed. Phys. Eng. Express

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The inherent biological hazards associated with ionizing radiation necessitate the implementation of effective shielding measures, particularly in medical applications. Interventional radiology, in particular, poses a unique challenge as it often exposes medical personnel to prolonged periods of high X-ray doses. Historically, lead and lead-based compounds have been the primary materials employed for shielding against photons. However, the drawbacks of lead, including its substantial weight causing personnel’s inflexibility and its toxicity, have raised concerns regarding its long-term impact on both human health and the environment. Barium tantalate has emerged as a promising alternative, due to its unique attenuation properties against low-energy X-rays, specifically targeting the weak absorption area of lead. In the present study, we employ the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation tool to investigate various formulations of barium tantalate doped with rare earth elements. The aim is to identify the optimal composition for shielding X-rays in the context of interventional radiology. To achieve this, we employ a reference X-ray spectrum typical of interventional radiology procedures, with energies extending up to 90 keV, within a carefully designed simulation setup. Our primary performance indicator is the reduction in air kerma transmission. Furthermore, we assess the absorbed doses to critical organs at risk within a standard human body phantom protected by the shield. Our results demonstrate that specific concentrations of the examined rare earth impurities can enhance the shielding performance of barium tantalate. To mitigate X-ray exposure in interventional radiology, our analysis reveals that the most effective shielding performance is achieved when using barium tantalate compositions containing 15% Erbium or 10% Samarium by weight. These findings suggest the possibility of developing lead-free shielding solutions or apron for interventional radiology personnel, offering a remarkable reduction in weight (exceeding 30%) while maintaining shielding performance at levels comparable to traditional lead-based materials.

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