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Polymer gel dosimetry constitutes a multidisciplinary experimental dosimetry method presenting the unique advantages of: 3D dose distribution mapping, dose response independence of radiation type and energy, water equivalence, arbitrary dosimeter shape and dimensions. It is based on the radiation induced polymerization and cross-linking of appropriate monomers embedded in a gelatin matrix. Polymerization alters a number of chemical and physical properties of the gel and a variety of imaging methods (MRI, optical or X-ray CT, Ultrasound etc.) can be used through appropriate calibration procedures for the measurement of complex 3D dose distributions such as those delivered in contemporary radiation therapy techniques which have surpassed the potential of conventional 1D or 2D dosimetry systems.
Two polymer gel dosimeter formulations have been developed, VIPAR and PABIG (the latter through an ongoing research collaboration with the Radiation Chemistry Dept., Technical University of Lodz ). These formulations have been characterized and used extensively for dose verification and quality assurance purposes (see Publication List ). Research is currently focused on the modification of these formulations for the introduction of the method to all applications of ionizing radiation.