Hydrogen nanobubbles demonstrate significant potential as radiosensitizing agents in Ruthenium-106 brachytherapy for ocular melanoma, achieving dose enhancement factors up to 300% depending on concentration. This novel approach could reduce treatment time, minimize scleral damage, and decrease radiation exposure to healthy ocular tissues, offering a promising advancement in ophthalmic cancer radiotherapy.
Plain-Language Summary
This study tested whether tiny hydrogen bubbles (100 nanometers in diameter) could make radiation therapy more effective for treating eye melanoma (a type of eye cancer). Researchers used computer simulations and a 3D-printed model of an eye to measure how much radiation dose was delivered when hydrogen nanobubbles were present. They found that higher concentrations of these bubbles significantly increased the radiation dose reaching the tumor, potentially allowing shorter treatment times and less damage to healthy eye tissue.
Abstract
Background: Ocular melanoma is a rare kind of eye malignancy that threatens the patient's eyesight. Radiotherapy and surgical removal are the most commonly used therapeutic modalities, and nanomedicine has lately entered this field. Brachytherapy using Ruthenium-106 (106 Ru) ophthalmic plaques has been used for decades to treat ocular melanoma, with the applicator placed on the patient's eyes until the prescribed dose reaches the tumor apex. Purpose: To investigate the efficiency of hydrogen nanobubbles (H2 -NBs) employment during intraocular melanoma brachytherapy using a 106 Ru electron emitter plaque. Methods: The Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and experimental investigation using a 3D-designed phantom and thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) were employed. Various concentrations of H2 -NBs with a diameter of 100 nm were simulated inside tumor tissue. The results were presented as deposited energy and dose enhancement factor (DEF). An equivalent Resin phantom of the human eyeball was made using AutoCAD and 3D-Printer technologies. The glass-bead TLDs dosimeter were employed and placed inside the phantom. Results: Using a 1% concentration of H2 -NBs, a DEF of 93% and 98% were achieved at the tumor apex of 10 mm from the experimental setup and MC simulation, respectively. For simulated concentrations of 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 1%, and 4% H2 -NBs, a maximum dose enhancement of 154%, 174%, 188%, 200%, and 300% were achieved, respectively, and a dose reduction was seen at about 3 mm from the plaque surface. Conclusion: H2 -NBs can be used as an absorbed dose enhancer in 106 Ru eye brachytherapy because of their unique physical characteristics. Reducing plaque implantation time on the patient's eye, reducing sclera absorbed dose, and decreasing the risk of patients' healthy organs irradiation are reported as some of the potential benefits of using H2-NBs. Keywords: Ruthenium-106 ophthalmic plaque; brachytherapy; eye phantom; glass bead dosimeters; hydrogen nanobubbles.
DOI: 10.1002/mp.16521
