First Combined, Double‐Density LCV‐Pluronic F‐127 Radiochromic Dosimeter Mimicking Lungs and Muscles

Abstract This work reports on a new type of combined radiochromic ionizing radiation dosimeter for radiotherapy. The LCV‐Pluronic F‐127 serves for this purpose, which is a leuco crystal violet embedded in a physical hydrogel matrix of poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(propylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic F‐127) with additives. This dosimeter responds to ionizing radiation by developing a blue color with an intensity related to the radiation dose. The LCV‐Pluronic F‐127 dosimeter is improved for lower temperature stability by adding sodium chloride (NaCl). Subsequently, a method for manufacturing the LCV‐Pluronic F‐127 lung mimicking dosimeter is proposed. Next, the LCV‐Pluronic F‐127 3D composite dosimeter is elaborated, which contains in one container two dosimetric zones of different densities mimicking soft tissues: muscles and lungs. The following are investigated: i) LCV‐Pluronic F‐127 phase transition with and without NaCl, ii) dose response characteristics, iii) stability during storage, iv) foams characteristics – lung mimicking dosimeter, v) tissue equivalence, and vi) dose response of LCV‐Pluronic F‐127 combined dosimeter to a medical accelerator X‐ray irradiation. In summary, this work proves the possibility of formation complex dosimeters and opens a new area of research toward the development and application of such dosimeters containing dosimetric zones corresponding to many tissues in one vial.