α-Irradiation setup for primary human cell cultures

We present an α-irradiation setup for the irradiation of primary human cell cultures under controlled conditions using Am α-particles. To irradiate samples with α-particles in a valid manner, a reliable dosimetry is a great challenge because of the short α-range and the complex energy spectrum. Ther...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of radiation biology 2020-02, Vol.96 (2), p.206-213
Main Authors: Maier, Andreas, Wiedemann, Julia, Adrian, Julia Anna, Dornhecker, Maximilian, Zipf, Andreas, Kraft-Weyrather, Wilma, Kraft, Gerhard, Richter, Sandra, Teuscher, Nico, Fournier, Claudia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alpha Particles
Americium
Animals
Cell Line
CHO Cells
Collagen - chemistry
Cricetinae
Cricetulus
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Histones - metabolism
Humans
Keratinocytes - cytology
Linear Energy Transfer
Oxygen - metabolism
Polyethylene Terephthalates
Primary Cell Culture
Radiometry
Reproducibility of Results
Space life sciences
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Summary:We present an α-irradiation setup for the irradiation of primary human cell cultures under controlled conditions using Am α-particles. To irradiate samples with α-particles in a valid manner, a reliable dosimetry is a great challenge because of the short α-range and the complex energy spectrum. Therefore, the distance between α-source and sample must be minimal. In the present setup, this is achieved by cells growing on a 2 μm thick biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (boPET) foil which is only 2.7 mm apart from the source. A precise and reproducible exposure time is realized through a mechanical shutter. The fluence, energy spectra and the corresponding linear energy transfer are determined by the source geometry and the material traversed. They were measured and calculated, yielding a dose rate of 8.2 ± 2.4 Gy/min. To improve cell growth on boPET foils, they were treated with air plasma. This treatment increased the polarity and thus the ability of cells attaching to the surface of the foil. Several tests including cell growth, staining for a marker of DNA double-strand breaks and a colony-forming assay were performed and confirm our dosimetry. With our setup, it is possible to irradiate cell cultures under defined conditions with α-particles. The plasma-treated foil is suitable for primary human cell cultures as shown in cell experiments, confirming also the expected number of particle traversals.
ISSN:0955-3002
1362-3095
DOI:10.1080/09553002.2020.1683641