Fractionation

Fractionation is a process used in chemistry and biochemistry to separate a certain substance or a mixture into its individual components. This process is commonly used in the medical field, particularly in radiotherapy and pharmacology.

Overview

In the context of radiotherapy, fractionation refers to the method of delivering the total dose of radiation in multiple, small doses over a certain period of time. This method is used to minimize damage to healthy tissues and maximize the radiation dose to the tumor.

In pharmacology, fractionation is used to separate the different components of a drug or a mixture. This is done to isolate the active ingredients, which can then be studied and used for therapeutic purposes.

Radiotherapy

In radiotherapy, fractionation is used to deliver the total dose of radiation in multiple, small doses. This is done to minimize damage to healthy tissues and maximize the radiation dose to the tumor. The total dose of radiation is divided into fractions, which are then delivered over a certain period of time. This method is known as external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Pharmacology

In pharmacology, fractionation is used to separate the different components of a drug or a mixture. This is done to isolate the active ingredients, which can then be studied and used for therapeutic purposes. The process involves the use of various techniques such as chromatography, centrifugation, and crystallization.

See also

• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Radiotherapy
• Pharmacology
• External beam radiotherapy
• Chromatography
• Centrifugation
• Crystallization

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