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Researchers from the Health Research and Technology Group at ANSTO, in collaboration with the University of Wollongong, have engineered a novel device poised to enhance quality control in accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), a cutting-edge form of radiation therapy that holds significant promise for treating aggressive cancers.
Their work, detailed in a recent publication in Radiation Measurements, introduces an innovative metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) device with four integrated transistors, known as the Quad-MOSFET. This device provides real-time, cost-efficient monitoring of the neutron beams utilised in BNCT.
Accelerator-based neutron sources are emerging as advanced alternatives to traditional nuclear reactors, offering a more compact and cost-effective means of producing neutrons. These systems rely on linear accelerators, which propel charged particles to high energies. When these high-energy particles collide with a target material, neutrons are produced. These neutrons are subsequently moderated, or slowed down, to achieve the desired energy levels necessary for various applications, including BNCT.
The lead researcher from ANSTO emphasised the significance of accelerator-based neutron sources. These sources are not only more compact and economically viable, but they also expand access to neutrons, thereby facilitating their use in a broad range of applications, including medical treatments like BNCT and radionuclide production.
BNCT represents a highly precise form of cancer treatment that leverages the unique properties of boron-containing compounds. These compounds preferentially accumulate in cancer cells, and when irradiated with neutrons, the boron atoms capture the neutrons and undergo nuclear reactions. This reaction destroys the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue, offering a targeted therapeutic approach with minimal collateral damage.
The Quad-MOSFET device developed by the research team plays a critical role in this process by enabling the accurate, real-time monitoring of neutron beams. One of the device’s key features is its ability to distinguish between thermal, epithermal, and fast neutrons, even in the presence of a photon background. This capability is essential for the effective application of BNCT, as it ensures that the neutron beam’s characteristics are precisely controlled and monitored throughout the treatment.
The innovative design of the Quad-MOSFET includes four distinct MOSFET detectors, each optimised with different converter materials. These materials are specifically chosen to selectively measure neutron flux across various energy spectra, thereby providing a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the neutron beam’s properties.
The corresponding author of the study highlighted the transformative potential of accelerator-based neutron sources in the field of BNCT. The advent of these sources has led to the development of new facilities dedicated to accelerator-based BNCT, thereby making this promising cancer treatment more accessible to patients.
The Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, with a longstanding history of over three decades in developing innovative semiconductor radiation detectors, has been at the forefront of advancing medical dosimetry. Their partnership with ANSTO on this project underscores their commitment to enhancing the precision of cancer treatment through the deployment of cutting-edge technology. The successful implementation of the Quad-MOSFET device marks a significant step forward in this endeavour.
As the research team moves forward, they are currently evaluating a prototype of the Quad-MOSFET device at Australia’s sole thermal neutron source, the DINGO thermal neutron imaging instrument at the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering. Following these initial tests, the team plans to conduct trials at an overseas accelerator-based BNCT facility to further validate the device’s performance in a clinical setting.
This research exemplifies ANSTO’s dedication to advancing the application of nuclear science and technology for societal benefit. The development of the Quad-MOSFET device represents a critical advancement in the field of accelerator-based BNCT, offering the potential to deliver more effective and safer cancer treatments through precise real-time monitoring of neutron beams.
