High power accelerator-based boron neutron capture with a liquid lithium target and new applications to treatment of infectious diseases

S. Halfon*, M. Paul, D. Steinberg, A. Nagler, A. Arenshtam, D. Kijel, I. Polacheck, M. Srebnik

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new conceptual design for an accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (ABNCT) facility based on the high-current low-energy proton beam driven by the linear accelerator at SARAF (Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility) incident on a windowless forced-flow liquid-lithium target, is described. The liquid-lithium target, currently in construction at Soreq NRC, will produce a neutron field suitable for the BNCT treatment of deep-seated tumor tissues, through the reaction 7Li(p,n)7Be. The liquid-lithium target is designed to overcome the major problem of solid lithium targets, namely to sustain and dissipate the power deposited by the high-intensity proton beam. Together with diseases conventionally targeted by BNCT, we propose to study the application of our setup to a novel approach in treatment of diseases associated with bacterial infections and biofilms, e.g. inflammations on implants and prosthetic devices, cystic fibrosis, infectious kidney stones. Feasibility experiments evaluating the boron neutron capture effectiveness on bacteria annihilation are taking place at the Soreq nuclear reactor.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S278-S281
JournalApplied Radiation and Isotopes
Volume67
Issue number7-8 SUPPL.
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to express their thanks to C. Reed, Y. Momozaki, J. Nolen, G. Feinberg and Z. Gelbart for helping in the design and development of the lithium target. This study is partially supported by the Pazi IAEC-VATAT foundation.

Keywords

  • Accelerator-based BNCT
  • Infectious diseases
  • Liquid lithium
  • Target

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