Abstract
The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin–spin relaxation time (T₂) is related to the radiation-dependent concentration of polymer formed in polymer gel dosimeters manufactured from monomers in an aqueous gelatin matrix. Changes in T₂ with time post-irradiation have been reported in the literature but their nature is not fully understood. We investigated those changes with time after irradiation using FT-Raman spectroscopy and the precise determination of T₂ at high magnetic field in a polymer gel dosimeter. A model of fast exchange of magnetization taking into account ongoing gelation and strengthening of the gelatin matrix as well as the polymerization of the monomers with time is presented. Published data on the changes of T₂ in gelatin gels as a function of post-manufacture time are used and fitted closely by the model presented. The same set of parameters characterizing the variations of T₂ in gelatin gels and the increasing concentration of polymer determined from FT-Raman spectroscopy are used successfully in the modelling of irradiated polymer gel dosimeters. Minimal variations in T₂ in an irradiated PAG dosimeters are observed after 13 h.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2827-2839 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Physics in Medicine and Biology |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2001 |
| Externally published | Yes |