title: Microdosimetry of X-ray-irradiated gold nanoparticles.
abstract: The use of contrast agents, particularly those made of high atomic number elements like gold nanoparticles, to enhance the X-ray absorption properties of tissue has recently gained attention in the context of radiotherapy treatments. Because these contrast agents alter the secondary electron field in the irradiated medium by adding an Auger electron component, it is necessary to determine the change in the microdosimetric spectra brought about by the incorporation of such agents. Using Monte Carlo simulation, it is shown that the linear energy transfer and the beam quality factor in the vicinity of a gold nanoparticle irradiated with kilovoltage X-ray beams increase substantially when compared with irradiation without the gold nanoparticles present.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN Unidad Monterrey, Parque PIIT Autopista Nueva al Aeropuerto km 9.5, Apodaca, Nuevo León 66600, Mexico. hgarnica@cinvestav.mx
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Garnica-Garza
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D017785:Photons; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D006046:Gold