Abstract
Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy using a synchrotron radiation source (SR-μFTIR) has great potential in the study of the ionizing radiation effects of human cells by analyzing the biochemical changes occurring in cell components. SR-μFTIR spectroscopy has been usefully employed in recent years in some seminal work devoted to shedding light on processes occurring in cells treated by hadron therapy, that is, radiotherapy with charged heavy particles (mainly protons and carbon ions), which is gaining popularity as a cancer treatment modality. These studies are particularly useful for increasing the effectiveness of radiotherapy cancer treatments with charged particles that can offer significant progress in the treatment of deep-seated and/or radioresistant tumors. In this paper, we present a concise revision of these studies together with the basic principles of μFTIR spectroscopy and a brief presentation of the main characteristics of infrared SR sources. From the analysis of the literature regarding the SR-μFTIR spectroscopy investigation on human cells exposed to proton beams, it is clearly shown that changes in DNA, protein, and lipid cell components are evident. In addition, this review points out that the potential offered by SR-μFTIR in investigating the effects induced by charged particle irradiation have not been completely explored. This is a crucial point for the continued improvement of hadron therapy strategies.
Highlights
Accepted: 24 December 2021Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measures vibrational energy levels related to chemical bonds
Some researchers recognized the potential of SR sources and μFTIR spectroscopy for enlightening the complex processes occurring after cell exposure to proton beams
The first X-ray experiments with synchrotron radiation were performed in the 1960s, while the first developments of the synchrotron radiation in the IR region were obtained in the 1970s, and the first facility for the use of infrared synchrotron radiation (IR-SR) was established at Daresbury at the beginning of the 1980s [2]
Summary
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measures vibrational energy levels related to chemical bonds. Since the 1980s, there has been a growing interest in the use of these sources due to the fact of their high brilliance, which allows for the improvement of the spatial resolution up to the diffraction limit This enables the acquisition of high-quality single cell spectra even in an aqueous environment [4,5,6]. Significant improvement in hadron therapy outcomes is strictly related to the possibility of obtaining fast and accurate information on cell response For this purpose, some researchers recognized the potential of SR sources and μFTIR spectroscopy for enlightening the complex processes occurring after cell exposure to proton beams. We aimed at presenting a concise review of these studies together with the basic principles of μFTIR spectroscopy and a brief presentation of the principal characteristics of infrared radiation synchrotron sources
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