Nanoparticle-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Angiography Shielding: An MCNPX Study with XCom Validation

Nanocomposite Shields for Angiography Radiation Protection.

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Radiation shielding is a critical concern in angiography, where minimizing ionizing radiation exposure is essential for both patients and medical personnel. Composite materials incorporating high-Z nanoparticles into polymer matrices offer promising lead-free alternatives with enhanced flexibility and radiation absorption capabilities. This study aimed to design and evaluate silicon polymer-based composite shields reinforced with binary nanoparticle combinations for angiography applications.

Methods: MCNPX Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to calculate mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) across the angiography energy range (20–140 keV) for composites containing Bi-W, Bi-Ba, and W-Ba nanoparticles at concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 40%. Simulation results were validated against standard XCom reference data.

Results: Excellent agreement was observed between MCNPX simulations and XCom data, confirming the validity of our computational approach. Higher metal concentrations consistently yielded superior shielding performance at low X-ray energies (20–60 keV), with the Bi-W 40% composite achieving the highest MAC of 25.49 cm²/g at 20 keV. Distinct K-edge effects were identified for tungsten (69.5 keV) and bismuth (90.5 keV), contributing to enhanced attenuation at specific energies. However, the attenuation advantage of denser composites diminished at higher energies (100–140 keV), indicating energy-dependent performance.

Conclusion: Silicon polymer composites reinforced with binary high-Z nanoparticles, particularly Bi-W 40%, demonstrate significant potential as lightweight, lead-free shielding materials for angiography. The validated MCNPX approach provides a reliable framework for optimizing nanoparticle-filled composites.