title: Facility for gamma irradiations of cultured cells at low dose rates: design, physical characteristics and functioning.
abstract: We describe a low dose/dose rate gamma irradiation facility (called LIBIS) for in vitro biological systems, for the exposure, inside a CO2 cell culture incubator, of cells at a dose rate ranging from few μGy/h to some tens of mGy/h. Three different (137)Cs sources are used, depending on the desired dose rate. The sample is irradiated with a gamma ray beam with a dose rate uniformity of at least 92% and a percentage of primary 662keV photons greater than 80%. LIBIS complies with high safety standards.
authors.affiliation: Health and Technology Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy; INFN Roma1, Gruppo Collegato Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.esposito@iss.infn.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Health and Technology Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: pasquale.anello@iss.it.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anello
authors.affiliation: Health and Technology Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: ilaria.pecchia@iss.it.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pecchia
authors.affiliation: Health and Technology Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy; INFN Roma1, Gruppo Collegato Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: antonella.tabocchini@iss.it.
authors.forename: Maria Antonella
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tabocchini
authors.affiliation: Health and Technology Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy; INFN Roma1, Gruppo Collegato Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: campa@iss.infn.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campa
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005373:Film Dosimetry; D005720:Gamma Rays; D017785:Photons
keywords: Cell cultures; Chronic exposures; EBT3 GafChromic films; GEANT4 simulations; Gamma irradiation facility