X-Ray Induced Acoustic CT (XACT) Dosimetry
Developing a novel contrast agent for X-Ray Induced Acoustic CT (XACT) dosimetry, providing real-time in-vivo 3D calibrated radiation dose measurements.
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Project Overview
X-Ray Induced Acoustic Computed Tomography (XACT) is an emerging imaging modality that combines the principles of X-ray absorption and acoustic wave detection. Our research focuses on developing novel contrast agents for XACT to enable real-time, in-vivo 3D radiation dose measurements during radiation therapy.
The Challenge
Current radiation dosimetry methods have significant limitations: they either provide point measurements, require post-treatment analysis, or cannot be used in-vivo. This makes real-time adaptive radiation therapy challenging, as clinicians cannot directly observe the actual dose distribution within the patient during treatment.
Our Approach
We are developing a groundbreaking system that combines:
- Novel nanoparticle-based contrast agents that enhance the XACT signal
- Acoustic detection arrays optimized for clinical implementation
- Advanced reconstruction algorithms for real-time 3D dose visualization
- Integration with treatment planning systems for adaptive radiation therapy
Technical Innovation
Our approach uses gold nanoparticles encapsulated in a vaporizable exoskeletal structure. When exposed to radiation, these particles:
- Absorb radiation energy efficiently due to the high atomic number of gold
- Convert this energy to heat, causing rapid thermal expansion
- Generate detectable acoustic waves that can be captured by ultrasound transducers
- Enable 3D reconstruction of the radiation dose distribution in real-time
Expected Outcomes
Our XACT dosimetry system aims to:
- Provide real-time 3D visualization of radiation dose distribution
- Enable adaptive radiation therapy based on actual delivered dose
- Improve treatment accuracy and reduce normal tissue complications
- Serve as a quality assurance tool for complex radiation treatments
Current Status
This project is currently in the early experimental phase. We have successfully synthesized and tested several candidate contrast agents in phantom studies and are now preparing for pre-clinical testing.
