Applications of muon in cancer research

Even though there are several existing methods for detection of molecular oxygen in tissues, new noninvasive methods are needed to measure the presence of hypoxia, its extent and spatial distribution within tumor. Using quantum beam of muon, a new noninvasive method to observe the three-dimensional images of concentration of oxygen in tissues is proposed here. We have already confirmed the reliability and sensitivity of the proposed method to low oxygen concentration in water and dilute aqueous biological solutions. Before applying to real biosamples and applications towards clinical/medical purposes for tumor/cancer diagnosis/treatment, we would like to perform systematic study in different hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations (up to physiological concentration) in water, blood plasma, high Hb in blood plasma and inhomogeneous system of oxygen and Hb in in-vivo type experimental set-up.