Informe científico de Beca de Entrenamiento: Espector, Natalia Mercedes (2014-2015)

La Terapia por Captura Neutrónica de Boro (BNCT) es una metodología en desarrollo para el tratamiento de tumores que responden pobremente ante las terapias convencionales (Coderre et al., 2003, Barth et al., 2012; Moss, 2014). La misma se basa en la alta sección eficaz de captura del isótopo $latex ^{10}B$ para neutrones térmicos, produciéndose la reacción $latex ^{10}B(n,\alpha) ^{7}Li

Evaporation process in histological tissue sections for neutron autoradiography

The analysis of the distribution and density of nuclear tracks forming an autoradiography in a nuclear track detector (NTD) allows the determination of 10B atoms concentration and location in tissue samples from Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) protocols. This knowledge is of great importance for BNCT dosimetry and treatment planning. Tissue sections studied with this technique are obtained by cryosectioning frozen tissue specimens. After the slicing procedure, the tissue section is put on the NTD and the sample starts drying. The thickness varies from its original value allowing more particles to reach the detector and, as the mass of the sample decreases, the boron concentration in the sample increases. So in order to determine the concentration present in the hydrated tissue, the application of corrective coefficients is required. Evaporation mechanisms as well as various factors that could affect the process of mass variation are outlined in this work. Mass evolution for tissue samples coming from BDIX rats was registered with a semimicro analytical scale and measurements were analyzed with software developed to that end. Ambient conditions were simultaneously recorded, obtaining reproducible evaporation curves. Mathematical models found in the literature were applied for the first time to this type of samples and the best fit of the experimental data was determined. The correlation coefficients and the variability of the parameters were evaluated, pointing to Page’s model as the one that best represented the evaporation curves. These studies will contribute to a more precise assessment of boron concentration in tissue samples by the Neutron Autoradiography technique.Fil: Espector, Natalia. Universidad Favaloro; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Portu, Agustina Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Santa Cruz, Gustavo Alberto. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Saint Martin, María Laura Gisela. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto Sabato; Argentin