Background:The aim of this study was to synthesize Gd 3+ -based silica nanoparticles that conjugate easily with glucosamine and to investigate their use as a nanoprobe for detection of human fibrosarcoma cells. Methods: Based on the structure of the 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose molecule ( 18 FDG), a new compound consisting of D-glucose (1.1 nm) was conjugated with a Gd 3+ -based mesoporous silica nanoparticle using an N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxy succinimide (ANB-NOS) crosslinker. The contrast agent obtained was characterized using a variety of methods, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen physisorption, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). In vitro studies included cell toxicity, apoptosis, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and hexokinase assays, and in vivo tests consisted of evaluation of blood glucose levels using the contrast compound and tumor imaging. The cellular uptake study was validated using ICP-AES. Magnetic resonance relaxivity of the contrast agent was determined using a 1.5 Tesla scanner. Results: ANB-NOS was found to be the preferred linker for attaching glucosamine onto the surface of the mesoporous silica nanospheres.

Over the past few years there has been much interest in the development of three-dimensional dosimeters to determine the complex absorbed dose distribution in modern radiotherapy techniques such as IMRT and IGRT. In routine methods used for three-dimensional dosimetry, polymer gels are commonly used. Recently, a novel transparent polymer dosimeter, known as PRESAGE, has been introduced in which a radiochromic color change is observed upon radiation. PRESAGE has some advantages over usual polymer gel dosimeters. It has been noted that the sensitivity of PRESAGE can be changed when different amounts of the components are used for its fabrication. This study has focused on the assessment of dosimetric characteristics of PRESAGE for various amounts of components in its formulation. To achieve this, PRESAGE dosimeters were fabricated using various amounts of their constituting components. Then the dosimeters were irradiated to (60)Co gamma photons for a range of radiation doses from 0 to 50 Gy. Consequently, the light absorption changes of the dosimeters were measured by a spectrophotometer at different post-irradiation time periods. It was generally observed that as the concentration of the radical initiator is increased, the PRESAGE dosimeter sensitivity is increased while its stability is decreased. Furthermore, it was noted that with the high concentration of the radical initiator and leuco dye, the sensitivity of PRESAGE is decreased.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combination effect of resveratrol and methoxyamine on radiosensitivity of iododeoxyuridine in spheroid culture of U87MG glioblastoma cell line using colony formation and alkaline comet assays. Spheroids on day-20 with 350 µm diameters were treated with 20 µM resveratrol and/or 6 mM methoxyamine and/or 1 µM iododeoxyuridine for one volume doubling time (67 h), and then irradiated with 2 Gy gamma-radiation ((60)Co) in different groups. After treatment, viability of the cells, colony forming ability and DNA damages were obtained by blue dye exclusion, colony formation and alkaline comet assay, respectively. Our results showed that methoxyamine and resveratrol could significantly reduce colony number and induce the DNA damages of glioblastoma spheroid cells treated with iododeoxyuridine in combination with gamma-rays. Therefore, methoxyamine as base excision repair inhibitor and resveratrol as hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha inhibitor in combination with iododeoxyuridine as radiosensitizer enhanced the radiosensitization of glioblastoma spheroid cells.

Background: Before treatment planning and dose delivery, quality assurance of multi-leaf collimator (MLC) has an important role in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) due to the creation of multiple segments from optimization process.Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the quality control of MLC leaves using EBT3 Gafchromic films.Material and Methods: Leaf Position accuracy and leaf gap reproducibility were checked with Garden fence test. The garden fence test consists of 5 thin bands A) 0.2 Cm width spaced at 2 Cm intervals and B) 1 Cm width spaced at 1 Cm intervals. Each leaf accuracy was analyzed with measuring the full-width half-maximum (FWHM). Maximum and average leaf transmission were measured with gafchromic EBT3 films from Ashland for both 6 MV and 18 MV beams.Results: Leaf positions were found to be in a range between 1.78 – 2.53 mm, instead of nominal 2 mm for the test A and between 9.09 – 10.36 mm, instead of nominal 10 mm for the test B. The Average radiation transmission of the MLC was noted 1.79% and 1.98% of the open 10x10 Cm2 field at isocenter for 6 MV and 18 MV beams, respectively. Maximum radiation transmission was noted 4.1% and 4.4% for 6 MV and 18 MV beams, respectively.Conclusion: In this study, application of gafchromic EBT3 films for the quality assurance of Euromechanics multileaf collimator was studied. Our results showed that the average leaf leakage and positional accuracy of this type of MLC were in the acceptance level based on the Protocols.

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