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Related Concept Videos

Isotopes and Radioisotopes01:28

Isotopes and Radioisotopes

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In the early 1900s, English chemist Frederick Soddy realized that an element could have atoms with different masses that were chemically indistinguishable. These different types are called isotopes — atoms of the same element that differ in mass. Isotopes differ in mass because they have different numbers of neutrons but are chemically identical because they have the same number of protons. Soddy was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921 for this discovery.
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The difference between the calculated and experimentally measured masses is known as the mass defect of the atom. In the case of helium-4, the mass defect indicates a “loss” in mass of 4.0331 amu – 4.0026 amu = 0.0305 amu. The loss in mass accompanying the formation of an atom from protons, neutrons, and electrons is due to the conversion of that mass into energy that is evolved as the atom forms. The nuclear binding energy is the energy produced when the atoms’ nucleons...
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Nuclear Fusion

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The process of converting very light nuclei into heavier nuclei is also accompanied by the conversion of mass into large amounts of energy, a process called fusion. The principal source of energy in the sun is a net fusion reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei fuse and ultimately produce one helium nucleus and two positrons.
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Radiation: Applications01:17

Radiation: Applications

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The average temperature of Earth is the subject of much current discussion. Earth is in radiative contact with both the Sun and dark space; it receives almost all its energy from the radiation of the Sun and reflects some of it into outer space. Dark space is very cold, about 3 K, so Earth radiates energy into it. For instance, heat transfer occurs from soil and grasses, the rate of which can be so rapid that frost can occur on clear summer evenings, even in warm latitudes.
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Helium 4He nuclei based radiotherapy.

Natalia Knake1, Rafał Prokopowicz1, Michał A Gryziński1

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Helium-4 (⁴He) nuclei, or alpha particles, show promise in various medical radiation therapies. Developing accurate dose imaging methods is crucial for effective treatment planning and monitoring of biological response.

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Area of Science:

  • Nuclear medicine and radiation oncology.
  • Exploration of Helium-4 (⁴He) nuclei (alpha particles) for therapeutic applications.

Background:

  • ⁴He nuclei possess advantageous physical and biological properties for medical use.
  • Current applications include internal radiotherapy (IR) via Diffusing Alpha-Emitters Radiation Therapy (DaRT) and Alpha-emitters based Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (αRT).
  • Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) utilizes compounds as a source of alpha particles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of current and pre-clinical ⁴He nuclei-based therapies.
  • To emphasize methods for therapeutical dose imaging during ⁴He particle therapy.
  • To highlight challenges in dosimetry and treatment planning for alpha particle radiation therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing clinical and pre-clinical studies on ⁴He nuclei-based therapies.
  • Discussion of indirect methods for imaging alpha particle and accompanying ⁷Li nuclei distribution.
  • Exploration of radiobiological parameters for absorbed dose models considering synergistic effects.

Main Results:

  • High-energy ⁴He ions, unused clinically since the 1990s, saw renewed investigation with patient treatment in 2021.
  • Direct measurement of alpha particles and ⁷Li nuclei is not feasible, necessitating indirect imaging techniques.
  • Emerging methods aim to correlate physical dose distribution with biological response for treatment planning.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate in vivo dose distribution monitoring and biological response assessment are critical for ⁴He therapies.
  • Development of advanced imaging techniques and radiobiological models is essential for optimizing alpha particle radiation therapy.
  • Continued research into ⁴He nuclei-based treatments holds significant potential for improved cancer therapy.