title: Alpha-particle radiobiological experiments using thin CR-39 detectors.
abstract: The present paper studied the feasibility of applying comet assay to evaluate the DNA damage in individual HeLa cervix cancer cells after alpha-particle irradiation. We prepared thin CR-39 detectors (<20 microm) as cell-culture substrates, with UV irradiation to shorten the track formation time. After irradiation of the HeLa cells by alpha particles, the tracks on the underside of the CR-39 detector were developed by chemical etching in (while floating on) a 14 N KOH solution at 37 degrees C. Comet assay was then applied. Diffusion of DNA out of the cells could be generally observed from the images of stained DNA. The alpha-particle tracks corresponding to the comets developed on the underside of the CR-39 detectors could also be observed by just changing the focal plane of the confocal microscope.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S Y M
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: McClella
authors.forename: A K W
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: B M F
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikezic
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: P K S
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000512:Alpha Particles; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020552:Comet Assay / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004249:DNA Damage; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D011853:Radiobiology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers
chemical_list: D004247:DNA