Abstract
Funded within the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) [1], the joint research project “Biologically weighted quantities in radiotherapy” (BioQuaRT) [2] aims to develop measurement and simulation techniques for determining the physical properties of ionising particle tracks on different length scales (about 2 nm to 10 μm), and to investigate the correlation of these track structure characteristics with the biological effects of radiation at the cellular level. Work package 1 develops micro-calorimeter prototypes for the direct measurement of lineal energy and will characterise their response for different ion beams by experiment and modelling. Work package 2 develops techniques to measure particle track structure on different length scales in the nanometre range as well as a measurement device integrating a silicon microdosimeter and a nanodosimeter. Work package 3 investigates the indirect effects of radiation based on probes for quantifying particular radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Work package 4 focuses on the biological aspects of radiation damage and will produce data on initial DNA damage and late effects for radiotherapy beams of different qualities. Work package 5 provides evaluated data sets of DNA cross-sections and develops a multi-scale model to address microscopic and nanometric track structure properties. The project consortium includes three linked researchers holding so-called Researcher Excellence Grants, who carry out ancillary investigations such as developing and benchmarking a new biophysical model for induction of early radiation damage and developing methods for the translation of quantities derived from particle track structure to clinical applications in ion beam therapy.
Highlights
Radiation quality is conventionally characterised by specifying the energy spectrum of the ionising particles outside the human body
Work package 4 focuses on the biological aspects of radiation damage and will produce data on initial DNA damage and late effects for radiotherapy beams of different qualities
The project consortium includes three linked researchers holding so-called Researcher Excellence Grants, who carry out ancillary investigations such as developing and benchmarking a new biophysical model for induction of early radiation damage and developing methods for the translation of quantities derived from particle track structure to clinical applications in ion beam therapy
Summary
Radiation quality is conventionally characterised by specifying the energy spectrum of the ionising particles outside the human body. Microdosimetry [5] and nanodosimetry [6,7] have been developed to quantify the properties of the physical part of track structure in terms of stochastic microscopic quantities related to the transfer of energy to cells in tissue and the ionisation in chromosomes or DNA One such quantity in microdosimetry is the lineal energy, defined as the ratio of the energy imparted to a particular micrometric target and the mean chord length of a passing particle track within the target volume. Micro- and nanodosimetry, distinct radiation qualities differ in the probability distributions that are obtained for respective stochastic quantities when measuring track structure Neither of these two microscopic dosimetry methods on its own entirely can describe the biological effects as function of the distribution of energy or ionisation depositions. Present day microdosimeters and nanodosimeters measure ionisation in gases or semiconductors that are not necessarily representative of the energy deposition and ionisation in tissue
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