Rare Earth Aluminosilicate Glasses As Radiation Delivery Vehicles

Aluminosilicate glasses containing rare earth cations such as Y, Sm, Dy, and Ho have been investigated for the purpose of determining their ability to safely deliver large doses of beta radiation to diseased organis inside the body. The compositional regions of glass formation are described, along with the properties which such glasses must possess for safe use in the body. The exceptionally good chemical durability of these glasses is discussed since they must be insoluble in the body during the time the rare earth cation in the glass is radioactive. The results of human trials where yttrium aluminosilicate (YAS) glass microspheres have been used to treat patients with liver cancer are described.