Monte Carlo simulation study on the radiation attenuation characteristics of doxorubicin-treated femur and tibia bones in rats

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent widely recognized for its effectiveness in cancer treatment; however, its impact on bone tissue's radiation attenuation properties remains underexamined. This study investigates the gamma radiation attenuation properties of bones, focusing on mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) and linear attenuation coefficients (LACs) across a photon energy range of 0.05 MeV–0.15 MeV. Using simulation codes like WinXCom, MCNP, and PHITS, it was found that MACs decrease exponentially with increasing photon energy, influenced by the DOX bones' elemental compositions. The Control Tibia, with higher calcium content, showed superior gamma attenuation and higher MACs and LACs, especially at lower energies. Critical parameters such as half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), and mean free path (MFP) were inversely related to LACs, with the control tibia demonstrating the lowest values. Conversely, DOX bones, specifically the Dox Femur and Dox Tibia, showed lower MACs and LACs than control bones, indicating reduced gamma attenuation and increased radiation permeability. DOX bones also displayed higher HVL, TVL, and MFP values, and a decrease in the effective atomic number (Z_eff) with photon energy. In conclusion, this comprehensive approach provides significant insights into the mechanisms governing the radiation permeability effects of DOX on biological tissues, emphasizing its critical impact on tissue integrity and its implications for medical applications.