Students from London Academy of Excellence - Stratford and Orbyts Fellow Mariana Carreira Bento from UCL Medical Physics & Biomedical Engineering have taken a significant step towards revolutionising radiation therapy by investigating the effectiveness of 3D-printed phantoms! These phantoms, made from common thermoplastics, offer a cost-effective and customizable alternative to traditional commercially available phantoms.

The team focused on six primary materials: PLA, ABS, HIPS, PETG, PMMA and StoneFil. Through meticulous analysis of their linear attenuation coefficients (µ), the students discovered striking similarities between these materials and various human tissues. ABS and HIPS closely resemble tissues of lower mass density such as breast, adipose tissue and lung, and StoneFil was found to closely mimic cortical bone tissue. PETG, PLA and PMMA, on the other hand, closely resemble brain and muscle tissues.

These groundbreaking findings pave the way for the widespread adoption of 3D-printed phantoms in radiation therapy. By offering accurate simulations of human tissue, these phantoms will enable quality evaluation of dose calculations and treatment planning, ensuring a more accurate, accessible, and safer treatment delivery, ultimately improving patient outcomes!