Investigating the Sensitivity of New Formulation MAGAT and NIPAM Polymer Gels in the Radiation Therapy Dosimetry

BACKGROUND: Normoxic polymer gels have been used as a three dimensional (3D) dosimeter in radiation therapy, recently. The sensitivity of these gels is important in dosimetry and their improvement can be also useful. OBJECTIVE: In this study, different modalities of gel reading were used and the structure of gel changed due to the best improvement of sensitivity. The sensitivities of the new formulation of Methacrylic acid gel (MAGAT) and N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) polymer gel dosimeters were studied using two different reading methods of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this experimental study, in addition to making the NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter, a new formulation of normoxic polymer gel dosimeter, which named MAGAT gel, was investigated. The gels were irradiated with 6 MV in low doses, including1, 1.5, 1.75, 2 and 2.5 Gy. MRI and X-ray CT did the reading of gel dosimeters a day after irradiation using an elevated protocol. RESULTS: The dose sensitivities of 0.92 HGy(-1) and 0.47 HGy(-1) were obtained for new MAGAT and NIPAM polymer gel dosimeters, respectively, based on the X-ray CT reading modality. The use of MRI reading modality and the dose sensitivities were 0.74 S(-1)Gy(-1) and 0.27 S(-1)Gy(-1) for new MAGAT and NIPAM polymer gel dosimeters, respectively. CONCLUSION: The new formulation of MAGAT polymer gel with a suitable protocol of gel reading has a better response.