Radiochromic film label made from chitosan and Taraxacum officinale leaf extract

Monitoring the dose of gamma-ray radiation is important in the healthcare field. A simple indicator for dose monitoring is provided by radiochromic labels. This paper reports the preparation and characterization of radiochromic labels prepared from the natural dye of Taraxacum officinale (TO) leaf extract mixed with a chitosan matrix. The radiochromic label was fabricated in the form of a colored plastic biodegradable film. The film structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The color of the film label was quantitatively measured with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 433 and 630 nm. The ability of the labels to detect gamma-ray radiation was evaluated for a dose range from 0 to 30 kGy. Gamma-ray radiation caused changes in the color intensity of the film labels. Spectral analysis revealed that the absorbance increased when the film label was exposed to gamma-ray radiation. The results of these experiments show that the radiochromic film label made from TO leaf extract in a chitosan matrix can be used as a radiochromic indicator to determine the dose of gamma radiation and is a good candidate for use in the sterilization of health equipment.