Laser-driven electron accelerators are capable of producing high-energy electron bunches in shorter distances than conventional radiofrequency accelerators. To date, our knowledge of the radiobiological effects in cells exposed to electrons using a laser-plasma accelerator is still very limited. In this study, we compared the dose-response curves for micronucleus (MN) frequency and telomere length in peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to laser-driven electron pulse and X-ray radiations. Additionally, we evaluated the effects on cell survival of in vitro tumor cells after exposure to laser-driven electron pulse compared to electron beams produced by a conventional radiofrequency accelerator used for intraoperative radiation therapy. Blood samples from two different donors were exposed to six radiation doses ranging from 0 to 2 Gy. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for micronucleus induction was calculated from the alpha coefficients for electrons compared to X rays (RBE = alpha laser/alpha X rays). Cell viability was monitored in the OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line using trypan blue exclusion assay at day 3, 5 and 7 postirradiation (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 Gy). The RBE values obtained by comparing the alpha values were 1.3 and 1.2 for the two donors. Mean telomere length was also found to be reduced in a significant dose-dependent manner after irradiation with both electrons and X rays in both donors studied. Our findings showed a radiobiological response as mirrored by the induction of micronuclei and shortening of telomere as well as by the reduction of cell survival in blood samples and cancer cells exposed in vitro to laser-generated electron bunches. Additional studies are needed to improve preclinical validation of the radiobiological characteristics and efficacy of laser-driven electron accelerators in the future.
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1 September 2016
Research Article|
July 19 2016
Radiobiological Effectiveness of Ultrashort Laser-Driven Electron Bunches: Micronucleus Frequency, Telomere Shortening and Cell Viability
Maria Grazia Andreassi;
Maria Grazia Andreassi
1
aGenetics Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy;
1Address for correspondence: CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; email: mariagrazia.andreassi@ifc.cnr.it.
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Andrea Borghini;
Andrea Borghini
aGenetics Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy;
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Silvia Pulignani;
Silvia Pulignani
aGenetics Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy;
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Federica Baffigi;
Federica Baffigi
bIntense Laser Irradiation Laboratory, CNR National Institute of Optics, Pisa, Italy; and
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Lorenzo Fulgentini;
Lorenzo Fulgentini
bIntense Laser Irradiation Laboratory, CNR National Institute of Optics, Pisa, Italy; and
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Petra Koester;
Petra Koester
bIntense Laser Irradiation Laboratory, CNR National Institute of Optics, Pisa, Italy; and
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Monica Cresci;
Monica Cresci
aGenetics Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy;
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Cecilia Vecoli;
Cecilia Vecoli
aGenetics Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy;
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Debora Lamia;
Debora Lamia
cCNR Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Giorgio Russo;
Giorgio Russo
cCNR Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Daniele Panetta;
Daniele Panetta
aGenetics Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy;
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Maria Tripodi;
Maria Tripodi
aGenetics Unit, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy;
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Leonida A Gizzi;
Leonida A Gizzi
bIntense Laser Irradiation Laboratory, CNR National Institute of Optics, Pisa, Italy; and
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Luca Labate
Luca Labate
bIntense Laser Irradiation Laboratory, CNR National Institute of Optics, Pisa, Italy; and
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Radiat Res (2016) 186 (3): 245–253.
Citation
Maria Grazia Andreassi, Andrea Borghini, Silvia Pulignani, Federica Baffigi, Lorenzo Fulgentini, Petra Koester, Monica Cresci, Cecilia Vecoli, Debora Lamia, Giorgio Russo, Daniele Panetta, Maria Tripodi, Leonida A Gizzi, Luca Labate; Radiobiological Effectiveness of Ultrashort Laser-Driven Electron Bunches: Micronucleus Frequency, Telomere Shortening and Cell Viability. Radiat Res 1 September 2016; 186 (3): 245–253. doi: https://doi.org/10.1667/RR14266.1
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