A review study on gel dosimeter added with metal-based nanoparticles and its applications

Abstract The incorporation of metal-based nanoparticles into gel dosimeters has become a prominent trend due to their enhanced sensitivity. Developing novel gel dosimeters can lead to improved three-dimensional (3D) dosimetry quantification, better spatial resolution, and increased accuracy. This review examines the variations of nanoparticles used and their potential applications. Literature was sourced from electronic databases, including IOPscience, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (WOS). The search yielded 445 articles using the keyword queries “gel dosimeter” and “nano particl*” OR “np” OR “nanoparticle*”. After removing duplicates, 219 articles remained. Further screening for relevance resulted in 69 articles suitable for review, of which 8 were review papers, leaving 60 articles for detailed analysis. Various metal-based nanoparticles, such as silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), bismuth (Bi), and gadolinium (Gd), have been utilised to enhance gel dosimeters, improving energy dependence, enhancement factors, and sustainability. Each nanoparticle offers distinct advantages and disadvantages. The primary applications of these enhanced gel dosimeters are found in numerous medical fields, including brachytherapy and low to megavoltage radiotherapy.