This study presents the outcomes of combined radiobiological-microdosimetric experiments conducted in the same selected positions along the profile of a Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP). The aim was to obtain the necessary parameters for a novel microdosimetric model for computing photon isoeffective doses in proton therapy [1-5]. This model, named Continuous Microdosimetric Photon Isoeffective...
Minibeam irradiation is seen as a new frontier for exploiting the advantages of proton beams, as well as other types of radiation, towards increasing the therapeutic ratio on clinical treatments. In this context a novel INFN project has been recently launched called MIRO - Minibeam Radiation, dedicated to the investigation of beam design and radiobiological effectiveness of electron and proton...
With this contribution we want to report about the interest we have in the Trento facility related to research activities we are carrying on in the context of several INFN, CREF and Sapienza projects.
The first activity that would profit from the collaboration with the Trento facility and the availability of a research proton beam delivered both at FLASH and Conventional rates is related to...
The FOOT (FragmentatiOn Of Target) multi-detector experiment aims at improving the accuracy of oncological hadrontherapy for tumor treatment. It studies the nuclear fragmentation due to the interactions of charged particle beams with patient tissues. Among the FOOT detection subsystems detectors, the Silicon Microstrip Detector is part of the charged-ions-tracking magnetic spectrometer. The...
Detector technology based on thin (~ 50 µm) silicon sensors is gaining interest for the possible applications in beam monitoring, quality assurance, treatment verification and dosimetry in radiation therapy. Compared to gas ionization chambers, thin silicon sensors feature superior sensitivity, allowing to measure single particles, increased spatial resolution, much faster signal collection...
Conventional radiotherapy (RT) is based on the administration of photon beams in the form of low Linear Energy Transfer (LET) radiation (X-rays), which deposit a relatively small amount of energy on the target and disperses it to the surrounding healthy tissue, due to scattering phenomena, differently from high LET radiation (protons), which is delivered directly on the target with minimal...
The recent discovery of the “FLASH” effect occurring delivering beams at average dose-rates exceeding 40 Gy/s and with a total irradiation time of < 300 ms, is leading to a growing interest in establishing the dosimetric and monitoring techniques that still assure the high level of accuracy needed for the clinical translation of FLASH radiotherapy [Romano et al., Med. Phys. 2022).
An...
Applications based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) are being employed in several fields, including medical diagnosis, drug discovery, robotics, and autonomous vehicles. Enabling robots and vehicles to perform tasks autonomously can be useful in several scenarios, particularly for space exploration and satellites [1]. This success can be attributed in great part to advances in AI models, such...
Despite growing and accumulating evidence,the FLASH effect - i.e. the differential sparing of normal tissue versus a same efficacy on the tumor, when radiation is delivered at an ultra-high dose rate, as compared to a conventional way - remains largely unexplained mechanistically, a limit which hinders importantly its potential for a clinical translation. In this context the Workpackage 1...
In the framework of the MICROBE_IT project funded by the 5th commission of INFN in the period 2021-2023, several microdosimetric measurements have been performed at the research beam lines of the proton therapy centre of Trento.
The detector employed is a new miniaturized Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter characterized by a cylindrical sensitive volume of 1.0 mm in diameter and height...
Radiotherapy is a rapidly evolving domain encompassing various aspects, including the utilization of diverse beam types (protons, heavy ions, X-rays, electrons) and delivery methods, such as the emerging FLASH modality. To enhance clinical decision-making, a comprehensive understanding and modeling of physical, biophysical, and biological processes are essential. Initial and pivotal...
Radiation therapy is the most effective cytotoxic therapy to treat localized solid cancers. With the introduction of charged particle radiotherapy (such as proton therapy), the area of irradiated healthy tissue surrounding the tumor was further decreased. Unfortunately, radiotherapy resistance remains a major obstacle in tumor eradication, thus making it crucial to disentangle the complex...
Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) are single-photon sensitive detectors that continue to attract increasing interest in several industrial and scientific applications that require fast detection speed, high sensitivity, compactness, insensitivity to magnetic fields and low bias voltages. SiPMs are also replacing photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), hybrid photodiodes (HPDs), or other in high-energy...
The dual-radiator (dRICH) detector of the ePIC experiment at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) will be equipped with silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) sensors. SiPMs have excellent performance for efficient photodetection in high-magnetic field environments, but they are very sensitive to radiation damage. Rigorous testing is needed to ensure that their dark count rates (DCR) are kept under...
At INFN-Torino, ASICs for readout of several detectors were designed and are under development using the 110 nm CMOS UMC. This technology has been chosen for its lower cost even if there was not a systematic characterization for what concerns the radiation tolerance. Total Ionizing Dose and Single Event Upset (SEU) effects measurements are important studies to characterize ASICs and then also...
Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) is a well
known material for its radiation resistance and for the possibility
of deposition on flexible substrates like Polyimide (PI). The HASPIDE collaboration is developing a-Si:H devices both for
dosimetry of clinical beams than flux measurement of other beam types.
In this framework a test has been carried out at the Trento Proton Beam Line to...
The HEPD-02, realized by the Limadou collaboration for the CSES-02 satellite, whose launch is planned for the end of 2024, will be the first detector operating in space to host a pixel-based tracker detector, as well as the largest LYSO bars realized for space applications.
The detector aims to observe electron fluxes in the energy range between 3 and 100 MeV and protons fluxes between 30...
Mechanical flexibility, portability, low cost of fabrication, scalability onto large areas and human tissue equivalence are crucial properties which make organic and hybrid semiconductors excellent candidates for the development of wearable proton dosimeters. Among others, their employment in the medical field (i.e. during proton therapy treatments) to monitor in real-time and in-situ the dose...
Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment options for cancer patients. The delivery of radiation sources and the reduction in damage to the surrounding healthy tissues have made significant progress in recent years. Particularly, the emergence of Ultra High Dose Rate (UHDR, also known as FLASH) radiotherapy is encouraging because it enhances treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects....
