02/23/2023
By Victoria Ainsworth

The Kennedy College of Sciences, Department of Physics and Applied Physics, invites you to attend a master's thesis defense by Victoria Ainsworth on ““Smart Radiotherapy Biomaterials for image-guided in-situ vaccination in Cancer.”

Date: Friday, March 3, 2023
Time: 2:45 to 4:15 p.m.
Location: This will be a virtual defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact MS candidate Victoria_Ainsworth@student.uml.edu at least 24 hours prior to the defense to request access to the meeting.

Committee Members:

  • Chair Wilfred Ngwa, Ph.D., M.Sc. Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, John Hopkins University; Adjunct Professor, Physics & Applied Physics, UMass Lowell
  • Erno Sajo, Ph.D., M.Sc., Professor, Director of Medical Physics, Physics & Applied Physics, UMass Lowell
  • Mark Tries, Ph.D., M.Sc., Associate Professor, Coordinator of Radiological Sciences, Physics, UMass Lowell

Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted the potential of smart radiotherapy biomaterials (SRBs) for combining radiotherapy and immunotherapy. These SRBs include: smart fiducial markers and smart nanoparticles made with high atomic number materials that can provide the needed image contrast during radiotherapy and also make the tumor more immunogenic and programmable with sustained delivery of immunotherapy to prime in-situ vaccination. Here we review the state-of-the-art in this area of research, and the challenges and opportunities with focus on in-situ vaccination for extending radiotherapy to treatment of both local and metastatic disease. A roadmap for clinical translation is outlined with focus on specific cancers where such an approach is readily translatable or will have the highest impact. The potential of FLASH radiotherapy to synergize with SRBs is discussed including prospects for using SRBs in place of currently used inert radiotherapy biomaterials like fiducial markers, or spacers.