Fully customizable bronze-PLA lung shields using 3D printing for total body irradiation (TBI)

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy
• Materials Science

Background:

• Total body irradiation (TBI) is crucial for hematological malignancies but risks radiation-induced lung damage.
• Conventional lung shields (lead, Cerrobend) have fabrication, toxicity, and customization limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of 3D-printed bronze-polylactic acid (PLA) lung shields as a non-toxic, customizable alternative for TBI.
• To evaluate the radiation transmission characteristics of 3D-printed bronze-PLA shields compared to traditional shields.

Main Methods:

• Bronze-PLA lung shields (1.8 cm and 3.3 cm thick) were 3D-printed using 60% bronze powder by weight.
• Radiation transmission was measured using a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator (6 MV and 15 MV photons) at different source-to-axis/surface distances.
• Measurements were compared against conventional wax-lead shields.

Main Results:

• The 1.8 cm bronze-PLA shield transmitted 92.12% at 6 MV/100 cm SAD, while the 3.3 cm shield transmitted 77.08%.
• The wax-lead shield transmitted 86.43% under similar conditions.
• Higher MV beams and extended distances showed varied transmission, but increased bronze-PLA thickness consistently improved attenuation.

Conclusions:

• 3D-printed bronze-PLA lung shields show promise for TBI, offering customization, reduced toxicity, and workflow benefits.
• Observed transmission differences at higher energies and extended distances warrant further optimization.
• These findings support the development of 3D-printed shielding for TBI protocols.