Innovations in nanoscale dosimetry: Principles and research prospects at IFJ PAN

by Antoni Ruciński (IFJ PAN)

Thursday 18 Apr 2024, 11:00 → 13:00 Europe/Warsaw

In this talk, I will give an overview of the principles of nanoscale dosimetry, which is an approach going beyond conventional concepts of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and linear energy transfer (LET) applied in radiation therapy treatment planning [1]. Mainly, I will focus on the urgent need for the miniaturization of nanodosimetric detector technology for its practical application, and with this goal, I present my vision of the foundation of the nanodosimetry laboratory at CCB IFJ PAN. I will also give an overview of Monte Carlo track structure simulations that provide ionization detail parameters for proton and ion therapy treatment planning and introduce new nanoscale quantities, i.e., ionization detail parameters and cluster dose [2]. I will also briefly review classical and modern radiobiological assays that can be used to demonstrate the relationship between the frequency and complexity of DNA lesion clusters and cluster dose. Lastly, I will review ongoing research activities and present European and US collaborations aiming at applying nanoscale dosimetry concepts and methods in radiation therapy treatment planning and radiation protection.

[1] A. Rucinski, A. Biernacka, and R. Schulte, Applications of nanodosimetry in particle therapy planning and beyond, Phys. Med. Biol. 66 (2021) 24TR01, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ac35f1 

[2] B. Faddegon, …, A. Rucinski, et al. Ionization detail parameters and cluster dose: a mathematical model for selection of nanodosimetric quantities for use in treatment planning in charged particle radiotherapy Phys. Med. Biol. 68 (2023) 175013, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/acea16