High power accelerator-based boron neutron capture with a liquid lithium target and new applications to treatment of infectious diseases

A new conceptual design for an accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (ABNCT) facility based on the high-current low-energy proton beam driven by the linear accelerator at SARAF (Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility) incident on a windowless forced-flow liquid-lithium target, is desc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied radiation and isotopes 2009-07, Vol.67 (7), p.S278-S281
Main Authors: Halfon, S., Paul, M., Steinberg, D., Nagler, A., Arenshtam, A., Kijel, D., Polacheck, I., Srebnik, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accelerator-based BNCT
Bacterial Infections - radiotherapy
Biofilms - radiation effects
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy - instrumentation
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy - methods
Facility Design and Construction
Fast Neutrons - therapeutic use
Humans
Infectious diseases
Israel
Liquid lithium
Lithium - radiation effects
Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Particle Accelerators
Target
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Summary:A new conceptual design for an accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (ABNCT) facility based on the high-current low-energy proton beam driven by the linear accelerator at SARAF (Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility) incident on a windowless forced-flow liquid-lithium target, is described. The liquid-lithium target, currently in construction at Soreq NRC, will produce a neutron field suitable for the BNCT treatment of deep-seated tumor tissues, through the reaction 7Li(p,n) 7Be. The liquid-lithium target is designed to overcome the major problem of solid lithium targets, namely to sustain and dissipate the power deposited by the high-intensity proton beam. Together with diseases conventionally targeted by BNCT, we propose to study the application of our setup to a novel approach in treatment of diseases associated with bacterial infections and biofilms, e.g. inflammations on implants and prosthetic devices, cystic fibrosis, infectious kidney stones. Feasibility experiments evaluating the boron neutron capture effectiveness on bacteria annihilation are taking place at the Soreq nuclear reactor.
ISSN:0969-8043
1872-9800
DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.03.075