Synthesize Porous Hydrogel Material with Mechanical and Radiological Properties Equivalent to Human Organs

Abstract

The University of Central Florida invention is a material that can help to improve radiotherapy accuracy. It includes a method for making the material with radiological and mechanical properties equivalent to those of human lungs. Radiation treatment of cancer typically involves the use of high energy X-ray beams focused on the location of the tumor. A typical lung radiotherapy procedure takes approximately 15 minutes, during which the patient cannot be expected to hold breath to keep the tumor stationary. The tumor motion associated with patient breathing usually results in under-treatment and over-exposure of the surrounding healthy tissue to harmful radiation.

To minimize such tumor localization errors, UCF researchers developed a method for synthesizing alginate-based porous hydrogel material with mechanical and radiological properties equivalent to human lungs. The UCF invention thus provides a pathway to physically assess radiation dosage on human tissues and organs, as well as to validate the motion of a human lung and a lung tumor to improve radiotherapy accuracy.

Technical Details: The UCF invention comprises a porous hydrogel material and the method for making the material, which is mechanically and radiologically equivalent to a human organ. The method is relatively easy to implement and environmentally friendly. Naturally derived, the material includes a foamlike alginate hydrogel mixed with appropriate chemicals. Based on established alginate hydrogel preparation procedures, the method includes the addition of surfactants followed by mechanical mixing. Chemicals include sodium alginate, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), glucono delta-lactone (GDL), and sodium lauryl ether sulfate. The material properties can be readily adjusted by changing the alginate concentration as well as the solution volume.

Partnering Opportunity: The research team is seeking partners for licensing, research collaboration, or both.

Stage of Development: Prototype available.

Benefit

Market Application