A UK startup has unveiled a groundbreaking Multi-State Fusion (MSF) reactor that is capable of treating tumors and cancerous cells, marking a significant revolution in cancer treatment and diagnosis. Astral Systems, co-founded by Dr. Tom Wallace-Smith, a research associate at the University of Bristol, has developed the first-of-its-kind MSF reactor that produces essential medicinal isotopes for diagnostic imaging and radiation treatment aimed at killing cancer cells.
The company’s innovative approach to fighting cancer aims to target tumors and malignant cells directly at their source. Moreover, the medicinal isotopes produced by the MSF reactor also function as “radioactive tracers,” allowing medical professionals to diagnose imaging-based medical problems and gain important insights into the body’s tissues and organs.
Looking ahead, Astral Systems plans to build compact fusion reactors that can be installed in regional isotope factories domestically and abroad. These fusion reactors will offer more flexible scheduling and less expensive radioactive sample delivery. Additionally, this alternative technology is expected to be safer and cleaner and can be installed within or next to hospital hubs, providing clinicians access to a wider range of diagnostic and treatment methods.
Astral Neutronics, the company behind the breakthrough, states that its new reactor is a step towards ensuring global access to nuclear medicine, in the face of supply chain instability caused by aging fission reactors. With six fission reactors responsible for more than 90% of the world’s medical isotope supply, but all of them set to shut down by 2030, the availability of medicinal isotopes has become a pressing issue.
Furthermore, Astral Neutronics envisions expanding the application of the MSF reactor beyond the medicinal field, with plans to utilize it for fusion neutron materials damage testing, transmutation of existing nuclear waste stores, and space applications, among other uses. Dr. Wallace-Smith also highlights the potential of the MSF reactor as a platform for testing concepts related to the appearance and potential behavior of a full-scale fusion power plant.
Therefore, the breakthrough achieved by Astral Neutronics clearly represents a significant contribution to cancer treatment and diagnosis, with far-reaching implications for global health access and the future of nuclear medicine.
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