Brachytherapy devices and related methods and computer program products
A low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy device having a spatiotemporal radiation profile includes an elongated body having a radioactive material in a spatial pattern to provide a spatial radiation profile with a radiation intensity that varies along a length of the elongated body. The radioactive material includes at least first and second radioisotopes having at least first and second respective decay profiles that together provide a temporal radiation profile that is different from the first and second decay profiles. The spatial radiation profile and the temporal radiation profile form a net spatiotemporal radiation profile configured to provide a radiotherapy plan for a patient.
1. A low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy device comprising:
a substrate having a micropattern thereon, the micropattern including a plurality of spaced-apart wells; and
spaced-apart globules of radioactive material deposited in at least some of the wells at a density of two or more globules per 5 mm wherein the radioactive material is formed from a sol gel combined with a radioactive source material.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the radioactive material comprises a first and second radioisotope, wherein the first and second radioisotopes each have a different half-life.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the radioactive material is a first radioactive material, the device further comprising depositing a second radioactive material having a different half-life than the first radioactive material.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the radioactive source is substantially uniformly dispersed at a molecular level.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sol gel is a polar sol gel.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the sol gel includes a polar substituent comprising an amino group.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the sol gel is prepared from a mixture of a trifunctional alkyl silane and a trifunctional aminoalkyl silane.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the trifunctional alkyl silane is selected from the group consisting of isobutyltrimethoxysilane (BTMOS), isobutyltriethoxysilane, n-butyltrimethoxysilane, n-propyltrimethoxysilane, n-propyltriethoxysilane, n-pentyltriethoxysilane, ethyltrimethoxysilane, ethyltriethoxysilane, and methyltrimethoxysilane.
9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the trifunctional aminoalkyl silane is selected from the group consisting of N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAP3), (aminoethylaminomethyl)phenethyltrimethoxysilane (AEMP3), N-(6-aminohexyl) aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AHAP3), N-[3-(trimethoxysily) propyl]diethylenetriamine (DET3) aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, and aminopropyltriethoxysilane.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein respective volumes for each of the spaced-apart globules of the radioactive material are between 5 and 500 nanoliters.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the density of the spaced-apart globules is 20 or more globules per 5 mm.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spaced-apart globules are adhered to the respective wells.
13. A brachytherapy device comprising:
an elongated substrate; and
a polymeric sol gel material having a molecularly dispersed radioisotope, wherein the polymeric sol gel is deposited on the substrate in a pattern, the pattern comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, discrete globules, each globule having a respective volume of the polymeric sol-gel material, wherein the respective volumes for each of the globules are between 5 and 500 nanoliters.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the substrate is an elongated body.
15. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a biocompatible, nondegradable polymeric coating layer on the elongated body and the polymeric sol gel.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the coating has an ultrasound visibility enhancement layer thereon.
17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the elongated body comprises a suture.
18. A low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy device comprising:
a substrate having a micropattern thereon, the micropattern including a plurality of spaced-apart globules of a radioactive material having a density of two or more globules per 5 mm, wherein the micropattern of the substrate includes a plurality of microwells, and the radioactive material is deposited in at least some of the wells.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the density of the spaced-apart globules of radioactive material is 20 or more globules per 5 mm.
20. The device of claim 18 , wherein respective volumes for each of the spaced-apart globules of the radioactive material are between 5 and 500 nanoliters.
21. The device of claim 18 , wherein the spaced-apart globules are adhered to the substrate.
22. The device of claim 18 , wherein the substrate is essentially flat.
23. The device of claim 18 , wherein the radioactive source is substantially uniformly dispersed at a molecular level.
24. The device of claim 18 , wherein the substrate is an elongated body.
25. The device of claim 18 further comprising a biocompatible, nondegradable polymeric coating layer on the substrate and the radioactive material.
26. The device of claim 25 , wherein the coating has an ultrasound visibility enhancement layer thereon.
27. The device of claim 18 , wherein the elongated body comprises a suture.