Proton Therapy

A proton beam is generated in a 18 Mev IBA CYCLONE cyclotron. The protons are then accelerated up to 24 Mev by Linac accelerator. In this way the protons deliver a precise dose of energy directly to the tumor site damaging the cancerous cells. Then they expend almost all their energy within the tumor, which means little remains to damage the healthy tissues beyond.
Such a high degree of accuracy thereby reduce adverse effects to adjacent normal tissue experienced by conventional radiation treatment.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

The promise of a new experimental cancer therapy with some indication of its potential efficacy has led many scientists from around the world to work on an approach called boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT)
BNCT is a binary radiation therapy modality that brings together two components, the first component is a stable isotope of boron (¹⁰B) and the second is a beam of low-energy neutrons.
Boron-10 in or adjacent to the tumor cells disintegrates after capturing a neutron and the high energy heavy charged particles produced destroy only cells in close proximity to it, primarily cancer cells, leaving adjacent normal tissues unaffected.
During irradiation of the tumor site by neutrons, the (¹⁰B) absorbs a low energy neutron and ejects an energetic short-range alpha particle and lithium ion which deposit most of their energy within the cell containing the original (¹⁰B) atom.
The radiation effect or damage produced can be extremely localized, thereby sparing normal tissues.
All neutrons used for BNCT are produced by IBA CYCLONE 18/9 cyclotron of both companies Acom spa and Sparkle srl.

LOCs (Lab-On-a-Chip)

Between numerous Acom projects there is Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology that represents a revolution in laboratory experimentation through Microfluidic chips which are the key components of the system. This device integrates one of several laboratory functions on a single chip of only millimetres to a few square centimetres size.
LOCs may provide advantages,which are specific to their application. Typical advantages are:

• Low fluid volumes consumption (less waste,lower reagent costs)
• Reduce the manufacturing costs of consumables, allowing cost-effective disposable chips fabricated in mass production
• Shorter reaction time and improved quality
• Improve enterprise-wide productivity
• Safer platform for all laboratory operators

Acom currently has realized chips to produce radioisotopes such as ¹⁸F and ¹²⁴I which are applied as radiotracers for FDG and Annexina V. The results obtained using microfluidic devices are the same as those obtained with the traditional standards however chemical reactions are run in shorter times from 4 to 60 seconds.
The manufacturing process for radiopharmaceuticals through microfluidic device consists of six steps:

1. Realize chips containing a network of miniaturized, microfabricated channels through which fluids and chemicals are moved to perform experiments. The technology to realize micro channels system has been developed while the project for the realization of a chip ad hoc is under development.
2. The second step regards the evaluation of an effective method of controlling temperatures for chemical reaction (about 50°C) with high precision and accuracy within micro-channels environments. The temperature of polydimethylsiloxane should be indicated on the technical sheet of PDMS otherwise in case of lack of these technical data it is possible to carry out some tests in the laboratories of CNR of Mesagne.
3. Study of a system for the introduction of fluids within microchannels and the recovery of them at the end of synthesis. Control components can be based on a set of actuation principles, such as single PZT (piezoelectric) actuator micropumps or peristaltic pumps which are compatible with fluids used.
4. The fourth step is the study and the integration of a heating system of fluids. In this regard the method most accurate to localize the zones to heat is the laser.
5. The microfluidic device once realized has to be integrated with a system of microcapillary that allow the introduction and the recovery of liquids from microfluidic system.
6. The last step is the system validation.