title: Dose of radiation enhancement, using silver nanoparticles in a human tissue equivalent gel dosimeter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the radiation dose enhancement in a human tissue-equivalent polymer gel impregnated with silver nanoparticles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case-control study was conducted at the Bahawalpur Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, in January 2014. Silver nanoparticles used in this study were prepared by wet chemical method. Polymer gel was prepared by known quantity of gelatine, methacrylic acid, ascorbic acid, copper sulphate pentahydrate, hydroquinone and water. Different concentrations of silver nanoparticles were added to the gel during its cooling process. The gel was cooled in six plastic vials of 50ml each. Two vials were used as a control sample while four vials were impregnated with silver nanoparticles. After 22 hours, the vials were irradiated with gamma rays by aCobalt-60 unit. Radiation enhancement was assessed by taking magnetic resonance images of the vials. The images were analysed using Image J software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dose enhancement factor was 24.17% and 40.49% for 5Gy and 10Gy dose respectively. The dose enhancement factor for the gel impregnated with 0.10mM silver nanoparticles was 32.88% and 51.98% for 5Gy and 10Gy dose respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impregnation of a tissue-equivalent gel with silver nanoparticles resulted in dose enhancement and this effect was magnified up to a certain level with the increase in concentration of silver nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Mohsin
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Waheed
authors.affiliation: The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Naeem
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Anjum
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D000072232:Radiation Dosimeters; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D012834:Silver
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D012834:Silver
keywords: Radiation therapy, Radiation therapy enhancement, Silver nanoparticles, Gel dosimeter.