title: Simultaneous Observation of Cells and Nuclear Tracks from the Boron Neutron Capture Reaction by UV-C Sensitization of Polycarbonate.
abstract: The distribution of boron in tissue samples coming from boron neutron capture therapy protocols can be determined through the analysis of its autoradiography image on a nuclear track detector. A more precise knowledge of boron atom location on the microscopic scale can be attained by the observation of nuclear tracks superimposed on the sample image on the detector. A method to produce an "imprint" of cells cultivated on a polycarbonate detector was developed, based on the photodegradation properties of UV-C radiation on this material. Optimal conditions to generate an appropriate monolayer of Mel-J cells incubated with boronophenylalanine were found. The best images of both cells and nuclear tracks were obtained for a neutron fluence of 1013 cm-2, 6 h UV-C (254 nm) exposure, and 4 min etching time with a KOH solution. The imprint morphology was analyzed by both light and scanning electron microscopy. Similar samples, exposed to UV-A (360 nm) revealed no cellular imprinting. Etch pits were present only inside the cell imprints, indicating a preferential boron uptake (about threefold the incubation concentration). Comparative studies of boron absorption in different cell lines and in vitro evaluation of the effect of diverse boron compounds are feasible with this methodology.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Radiobiology,National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA),Av. General Paz 1499,B1650KNA,San Martín,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Agustina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Portu
authors.affiliation: 3Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN),Libertador 8250,C1429BNP,Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Andrés Eugenio
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Instrumentation and Control,CNEA,Presbítero Juan González Aragón,B1802AYA,Ezeiza,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Silvia Inés
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Thorp
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Research and Production Reactors,CNEA,Presbítero Juan González Aragón,B1802AYA,Ezeiza,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Curotto
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Research and Production Reactors,CNEA,Presbítero Juan González Aragón,B1802AYA,Ezeiza,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Emiliano César Cayetano
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.affiliation: 6Micro and Nanotechnology Centre of the Bicentennial (CNMB),National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI),Av. Gral. Paz 5445,Ed. 42,B1650JKA,San Martín,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Granell
authors.affiliation: 2National Research Council (CONICET),Av. Rivadavia 1917,C1033AAJ,Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Golmar
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Radiobiology,National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA),Av. General Paz 1499,B1650KNA,San Martín,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Rómulo Luis
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cabrini
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Radiobiology,National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA),Av. General Paz 1499,B1650KNA,San Martín,Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: Gisela Saint
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography / Q000379:methods*; D001880:Boranes / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001880:Boranes; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C447034:boronophenylalaninol; C005506:polycarbonate; D010649:Phenylalanine
keywords: BNCT; Mel-J; SEM; UV-C; boron imaging; neutron autoradiography; nuclear tracks; polycarbonate