The OncoSil™ device

OncoSil™ is a single-use brachytherapy Brachytherapy (also known as internal radiation therapy) is a commonly used form of radiotherapy where a sealed radiation source is placed directly into (interstitial) or adjacent to the site of a cancerous tumour. Brachytherapy targets tumours more precisely than external beam radiotherapy and delivers higher doses of ionising radiation, while reducing the radiation exposure in the surrounding healthy tissues.¹(internal radiation) device used to deliver a pre-determined dose of beta radiation directly into cancerous tissue. OncoSil™ is comprised of Microparticles that contain a radioisotopeRadioisotopes (or radioactive isotopes) of an element emit energy in the form of radiation over time (called radioactive decay) until they eventually become stable. They can be naturally occurring or man-made. Each radioisotope decays at a unique rate  - the time taken for half of the atoms to undergo decay is called the half-life. Phosphorous-32, the radioisotope used in the OncoSil™ device, has a half-life of approximately two weeks.² (phosphorous-32) and a specially formulated Diluent, which acts as a carrier to facilitate the implantation of the Microparticles into the target tissue.

The beta radiation emitted by the OncoSil™ device travels a short distance within the tumour tissue causing direct damage to the cancer cell DNA. This damage renders the cancer cells incapable of further cell division and proliferation. In this way, the OncoSil™ device can stop the cancer cells from multiplying and may ultimately shrink the tumour mass as the cancer cells eventually die.

The OncoSil™ device is intended to be used in conjunction with chemotherapy.