A new EPR dosimeter based on glutamic acid for radiation processing application.

L-Glutamic acid (L-GA) pellets (3.8 mm × 4 mm) and powder dosimeters were studied in the dose range of 0.1-150 kGy using the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The EPR spectra of irradiated L-GA pellets showed an EPR signal with eight lines, and the intensity of the signal increased with an increase of absorbed dose. The results obtained in terms of the energy-absorption coefficients suggest a similar performance of the L-GA pellets as compared to alanine pellets. The value of the temperature coefficient for the L-GA pellets during irradiation was around - 0.08%/°C which is lower than that reported for alanine dosimeter, 0.14%/°C. The influence of humidity on the pellet response was found to be negligible; i.e., the increase in response was only about 2% for a relative humidity of up to 94%. The response of L-GA powder reached stability 4 h after irradiation and continued to be stable until 47 days after irradiation. In contrast, the response of the L-GA pellet dosimeter reached stability 22 h after irradiation and continued to be stable until 8 days after irradiation. For routine applications, the L-GA pellet dosimeter should be analyzed during the stable period after irradiation, to minimize the uncertainties in dose assessment. The overall two-sigma uncertainties in absorbed dose estimation were 5.1% and 3.9% for the dose ranges of 0.1-15 kGy and 15-150 kGy, respectively. It is concluded that L-GA pellets represent a promising dosimeter material for quantification of radiation doses in food irradiation, medical sterilization and polymer modification.

Pergascript orange-based polymeric solution as a dosimeter for radiotherapy dosimetric validation.

A radiation colour former amino fluoran dye, Pergascript Orange (PGO), in a polyvinyl butyral solution containing a colour developer, hexachloroethane (HCE), was prepared and investigated for radiotherapy dosimetry of 60Co, 6 MV and 15 MV photons. PGO, a colourless dye, reacts with the acid produced upon radiation exposure of HCE, enabling the lactone ring to open and the orange colour of PGO to develop. The ring opening of PGO was confirmed by the appearance of a broad peak of OH- at 3360 cm-1, CO carboxylic peak at 1763 cm-1, and an iminium group peak at 1640 cm-1. The dose response of all prepared compositions was linear in the dose range of 1-20 Gy. Increasing HCE in the dosimeter matrix from 63 mM to 106 mM enhanced the radiation sensitivity by ≈58%. The radiation sensitivity of PGO-PVB (PGO-P) dosimeter is comparable with Fricke gel and higher than N-(Isobutoxymethyl) acrylamide polymer gel dosimeters. The experimental results reveal an energy-independent response (≈1.2% variation at 1σ) in the studied range of radiotherapy beam quality from 60Co beams to the beams from Linacs with a maximum energy of 15 MeV. Based on the theoretical study, this dosimeter is water equivalent from 80 keV to 10 MeV. The overall uncertainty was found to be 4.5% at the 95% confidence level, indicating the possibility of using PGO-P dosimeter in conventional radiotherapy dose verification.

Dosimetric characteristics of a radiochromic polyvinyl butyral film containing 2,4-hexadiyn-1,6-bis(n-butyl urethane).

A radiation-sensitive compound 2,4-hexadiyn-1,6-bis(n-butyl urethane) (HDDBU) was synthesized, characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, and introduced into a thin polyvinyl butyral film to form a radiation dosimeter for industrial irradiation facilities. The monomer polymerizes under gamma radiation, inducing change in the film spectrum in the range of 200-400 nm. According to XRD spectroscopy, the film contains monomeric HDDBU in a non-crystalline state. The dose response function, radiation sensitivity, and dependences of the response on environmental factors were studied. Uncertainty of dose measurements with the proposed dosimetry system was analyzed in detail.

Dosimetric studies for gamma radiation validation of medical devices.

The delivery and validation of a specified dose to medical devices are key concerns to operators of gamma radiation facilities. The objective of the present study was to characterize the industrial gamma radiation facility and map the dose distribution inside the product-loading pattern during the validation and routine control of the sterilization process using radiochromic films. Cardboard phantoms were designed to achieve the homogeneity of absorbed doses. The uncertainty of the dose delivered during validation of the sterilization process was assessed.

EPR dosimetric properties of radiation--formed radicals in arginine monohydrochloride.

Arginine monohydrochloride rods (3×10 mm) were irradiated with (60)Co γ-rays to study radicals for dosimetric materials with Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The rods have significant signal which develops upon irradiation and the intensity of signal increases upon the increase in irradiation dose. The rods can be used in the dose range from 5 to 120 KGy. The temperature coefficient was found to equal +0.22% °C(-1). The dose response, influence of humidity and post-irradiation storage at different conditions are discussed. The overall uncertainty for calibration of arginine monohydrochloride rode dosimeters at 2σ was found to be 2.85%.

Physico-chemical studies on the thyroid stimulating hormone immunoradiometric assay.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is known as thyrotropin, is an anterior pituitary hormone and a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 28,000 Daltons. This hormone increases the secretion of thyroxine and triiodothyronine from the thyroid gland. In the present study, the immunoradiometric (IRMA) technique was used for the estimation of TSH, and also the various thermo-kinetic parameters of the assay were determined including temperature, antibody volume, tracer volume, and incubation time. Many thermo-kinetic parameters were calculated, such as the free energy change of (DeltaG degrees ), the enthalpy change (DeltaH degrees ), and the entropy change (DeltaS degrees ) of the reaction. The results obtained were used to determine the order of the reaction and the optimum conditions to perform the assay. The optimum conditions that were obtained from the present studies were used to perform the assay for patient's samples and the results obtained were compared with that of a commercially used kit; the results indicated the high correlation between the traditional (commercial) method and the studied one.

A novel membrane sensor for histamine H1-receptor antagonist "fexofenadine".

The construction and general performance of thirteen new polymeric membrane sensors for the determination of fexofenadine hydrochloride based on its ion exchange with reineckate, tetraphenylborate and tetraiodomercurate have been studied. The effects of membrane composition, type of plasticizer, pH value of sample solution and concentration of the analyte in the sensor internal solution have been thoroughly investigated. The novel sensor based on reineckate exchanger shows a stable, potentiometric response for fexofenadine in the concentration range of 1 x 10(-2) - 2.5 x 10(-6) M at 25 degrees C that is independent of pH in the range of 2.0 - 4.5. The sensor possesses a Nernstian cationic slope of 62.3+/-0.7 mV/concentration decade and a lower detection limit of 1.3 x 10(-6) M with a fast response time of 20 - 40 s. Selectivity coefficients for a number of interfering ions and excipients relative to fexofenadine were investigated. There is negligible interference from almost all studied cations, anions, and pharmaceutical excipients, however, citrizine that has a structure homologous to that of fexofenadine was found to interfere. The determination of fexofenadine in aqueous solution shows an average recovery of 99.83% with a mean relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.5%. Direct potentiometric determination of fexofenadine in tablets gave results that compare favorably with those obtained by standard spectrophotometric methods. Potentiometric titration of fexofenadine with phosphomolybdic acid as a titrant has been monitored with the proposed sensor as an end point indicator electrode.

Identification and dose assessment of irradiated cumin by EPR spectrometry.

The use of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to accurately distinguish irradiated from unirradiated cumin and assess the absorbed dose to radiation-processed cumin is examined. The results were successful for identifying both irradiated and unirradiated cumin. Additive reirradiation of the cumin produces a reproducible dose response function, which can be used to assess the initial dose by back-extrapolation. Third-degree polynomial and exponential functions were used to fit the EPR signal/dose curves. It was found that the 3rd degree polynomial function provides satisfactory results without correction for decay of free radicals. The exponential fit to the data cannot be used without correction of decay of free radicals. The stability of the radiation-induced EPR signal of irradiated cumin was studied over a storage period of 6 months. The additive reirradiation of some samples was carried out at different storage times (10, 20 and 30 days) after initial irradiation.