Radiation therapy is used as a primary treatment for inoperable
tumors and in patients that cannot or will not undergo surgery. Radioactive
holmium-166 ((166)Ho) is a viable candidate for use against
skin cancer. Nonradioactive holmium-165 ((165)Ho)
iron garnet nanoparticles have been incorporated into a
bandage, which, after neutron-activation to (166)Ho, can be applied to a
tumor lesion. The (165)Ho
iron garnet nanoparticles ((165)HoIG) were synthesized and introduced into
polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
polymer solutions. The
polymer solutions were then electrospun to produce flexible nonwoven bandages, which are stable to neutron-activation. The fiber
mats were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy,
powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The bandages are stable after neutron-activation at a thermal neutron-flux of approximately 3.5 × 10(12) neutrons/cm(2)·s for at least 4 h and 100 °C. Different amounts of radioactivity can be produced by changing the amount of the (165)HoIG nanoparticles inside the
bandage and the duration of neutron-activation, which is important for different stages of
skin cancer. Furthermore, the radioactive
bandage can be easily manipulated to irradiate only the
tumor site by cutting the
bandage into specific shapes and sizes that cover the
tumor prior to neutron-activation. Thus, exposure of healthy cells to high energy β-particles can be avoided. Moreover, there is no leakage of radioactive material after neutron activation, which is critical for safe handling by healthcare professionals treating
skin cancer patients.