Alpha particle spectroscopy using FNTD and SIM super‐resolution microscopy

Summary Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) for the imaging of alpha particle tracks in fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTD) was evaluated and compared to confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). FNTDs were irradiated with an external alpha source and imaged using both methodologies. SI...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of microscopy (Oxford) 2018-06, Vol.270 (3), p.326-334
Main Authors: KOUWENBERG, J.J.M., KREMERS, G.J., SLOTMAN, J.A., WOLTERBEEK, H.T., HOUTSMULLER, A.B., DENKOVA, A.G., BOS, A.J.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alpha particles
Alpha radiation
Alpha rays
Biological effects
Cancer
Confocal microscopy
Detectors
Dosimeters
Dosimetry
Energy
Energy distribution
Fluorescence
FNTD
Illumination
Medical imaging
Microscopy
Particle energy
Particle tracking
Radiation dosage
Radiation measurement
Radiation therapy
Radiation tolerance
Scanning microscopy
Scattering
Sensors
SIM
Spatial distribution
Spatial resolution
Spectroscopy
Spectrum analysis
Tumors
α Radiation
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Summary:Summary Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) for the imaging of alpha particle tracks in fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTD) was evaluated and compared to confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). FNTDs were irradiated with an external alpha source and imaged using both methodologies. SIM imaging resulted in improved resolution, without increase in scan time. Alpha particle energy estimation based on the track length, direction and intensity produced results in good agreement with the expected alpha particle energy distribution. A pronounced difference was seen in the spatial scattering of alpha particles in the detectors, where SIM showed an almost 50% reduction compared to CLSM. The improved resolution of SIM allows for more detailed studies of the tracks induced by ionising particles. The combination of SIM and FNTDs for alpha radiation paves the way for affordable and fast alpha spectroscopy and dosimetry. Lay description Alpha radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment where alpha radiation, a heavy form of radiation, is used. This type of radiation therapy is becoming more popular, as it can be used as an alternative for treating tumours resistant to conventional radiation therapy. However, research on alpha radiation is severely hampered, because alpha particles can only travel very short distances before losing their energy (less than 100 micron in water). A new type of detector called the fluorescent nuclear track detector (FNTD) is able to measure this radiation. The particles that travelled through the detector create tracks, which can be visualised using fluorescence microscopy techniques. Currently, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is mostly used for 3D imaging of these nuclear tracks. In this work we used structured illumination microscopy (SIM) as an alternative to CLSM, in an attempt to reach beyond the diffraction limit and thereby increase the spatial resolution of FNTD imaging. We showed that the length, the direction and the energy of the alpha particle tracks in the detector could be measured with very good accuracy using this technique. The detector can therefore be used for measuring the radiation dose induced by alpha radiation. Researchers could thus combine this detector with biological studies to increase our knowledge on the effects that this type of radiation has on (cancer) tissue. The increased resolution also showed less scattering, which is a measure for how much an alpha particle ‘bounces around’
ISSN:0022-2720
1365-2818
DOI:10.1111/jmi.12686