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Monte Carlo single-cell dosimetry using Geant4-DNA: the effects of cell nucleus displacement and rotation on cellular S values

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Abstract

Investigation of biological effects of low-dose ionizing radiation at the (sub-) cellular level, which is referred to as microdosimetry, remains a major challenge of today’s radiobiology research. Monte Carlo simulation of radiation tracks can provide a detailed description of the physical processes involved in dimensions as small as the critical substructures of the cell. Hereby, in the present study, microdosimetric calculations of cellular S values for mono-energetic electrons and six Auger-emitting radionuclides were performed in single-cell models of liquid water using Geant4-DNA. The effects of displacement and rotation of the nucleus within the cell on the cellular S values were studied in spherical and ellipsoidal geometries. It was found that for the examined electron energies and radionuclides, in the case of nucleus cross-absorption where the radioactivity is either localized in the cytoplasm of the cell or distributed on the cell surface, rotation of the nucleus within the cell affects cellular S values less than displacement of the nucleus. Especially, the considerable differences observed in S(nucleus ← cell surface) values between an eccentric and a concentric cell–nucleus configuration in spherical and ellipsoidal geometries (up to 63% and up to 44%, respectively) suggests that the approximation of concentricity should be used with caution, at least for localized irradiation of the cell membrane by an Auger-emitter in targeted radionuclide cancer therapy. The obtained results, which are based on a more realistic modeling of the cell than was done before, provide more accurate information about nuclear dose. This can be useful for theranostic applications.

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  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Namjoo Avenue, P.O. Box 41335-19141, Rasht, 4193833697, Iran

    Ramak Salim & Payvand Taherparvar

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Salim, R., Taherparvar, P. Monte Carlo single-cell dosimetry using Geant4-DNA: the effects of cell nucleus displacement and rotation on cellular S values. Radiat Environ Biophys 58, 353–371 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-019-00788-z

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