Heavy Ion Microbeam Irradiation Research Articles

Single-Event Effect Responses of CMOS Integrated Planar Multiturn Inductors in LC-Tank Oscillators Under Heavy-Ion Microbeam Irradiation

Single-Event Effect Responses of CMOS Integrated Planar Multiturn Inductors in <i>LC</i>-Tank Oscillators Under Heavy-Ion Microbeam Irradiation

Investigation of Electrically Active Defects in SiC Power Diodes Caused by Heavy Ion Irradiation

Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and minority carrier transient spectroscopy (MCTS) are used to investigate electrically active defects in commercial SiC Schottky power diodes after heavy-ion microbeam irradiation at different voltages. The DLTS and MCTS spectra of pristine samples are analysed and compared to devices showing or not signatures of Single Event Leakage Current (SELC) degradation. An additional peak labelled ‘C’ with an activation energy of 0.17 eV below the conduction band edge is observed in the DLTS spectra of a sample degraded with SELC.

High turnover and rescue effect of XRCC1 in response to heavy charged particle radiation

The DNA damage response is a highly orchestrated process. The involvement of the DNA damage response factors in DNA damage response depends on their biochemical reactions with each other and with chromatin. Using online live-cell imaging combined with heavy ion microbeam irradiation, we studied the response of the scaffold protein X-ray repair cross-complementary protein 1 (XRCC1) at the localized DNA damage in charged particle irradiated HT1080 cells expressing XRCC1-tagged RFP. The results showed that XRCC1 was recruited to the DNA damage with ultrafast kinetics in a poly ADP-ribose polymerase-dependent manner. The consecutive reaction model well explained the response of XRCC1 at ion hits, and we found that the XRCC1 recruitment was faster and dissociation was slower in the G2 phase than those in the G1 phase. The fractionated irradiation of the same cells resulted in accelerated dissociation at the previous damage sites, and the dissociated XRCC1 immediately recycled with a higher recruitment efficiency. Our data revealed XRCC1’s new rescue mechanism and its high turnover in DNA damage response, which benefits our understanding of the biochemical mechanism in DNA damage response.

Experimental Investigation of the Joint Influence of Reduced Supply Voltage and Charge Sharing on Single-Event Transient Waveforms in 65-nm Triple-Well CMOS

Full waveforms of single-event transients (SETs) in inverter chains were measured under focused heavy-ion microbeam irradiation. Inverter chains of varying spacings were irradiated with 48Ca and 197Au ions. The influence of changing the supply voltage from subthreshold to nominal level on SET forming and propagation was investigated, and the role of charge sharing is discussed. Key factors that influence SET widths and cross sections are identified across the applied range of supply voltages. A simple method is presented for estimating average SET widths at decreased supply voltages, and is based on the SET width measurements at nominal supply voltage, transistor-level simulations, and extracted circuit parameters. The proposed method matches well with the measured data.

Nitric oxide-mediated bystander signal transduction induced by heavy-ion microbeam irradiation

In general, a radiation-induced bystander response is known to be a cellular response induced in non-irradiated cells after receiving bystander signaling factors released from directly irradiated cells within a cell population. Bystander responses induced by high-linear energy transfer (LET) heavy ions at low fluence are an important health problem for astronauts in space. Bystander responses are mediated via physical cell–cell contact, such as gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC) and/or diffusive factors released into the medium in cell culture conditions. Nitric oxide (NO) is a well-known major initiator/mediator of intercellular signaling within culture medium during bystander responses. In this study, we investigated the NO-mediated bystander signal transduction induced by high-LET argon (Ar)-ion microbeam irradiation of normal human fibroblasts. Foci formation by DNA double-strand break repair proteins was induced in non-irradiated cells, which were co-cultured with those irradiated by high-LET Ar-ion microbeams in the same culture plate. Foci formation was suppressed significantly by pretreatment with an NO scavenger. Furthermore, NO-mediated reproductive cell death was also induced in bystander cells. Phosphorylation of NF-κB and Akt were induced during NO-mediated bystander signaling in the irradiated and bystander cells. However, the activation of these proteins depended on the incubation time after irradiation. The accumulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a downstream target of NO and NF-κB, was observed in the bystander cells 6 h after irradiation but not in the directly irradiated cells. Our findings suggest that Akt- and NF-κB-dependent signaling pathways involving COX-2 play important roles in NO-mediated high-LET heavy-ion-induced bystander responses. In addition, COX-2 may be used as a molecular marker of high-LET heavy-ion-induced bystander cells to distinguish them from directly irradiated cells, although this may depend on the time after irradiation.

Continuous observation of polarization effects in thin SC-CVD diamond detector designed for heavy ion microbeam measurement

Continuous irradiation effects on a thin-film diamond detector were investigated for the utilization of these films as a detector for heavy ion microbeams. Temporal signal degradation in the energy spectrum was frequently observed during the focused heavy ion microbeam irradiation. To measure the temporal response to the each ion incidents, focused heavy ion microbeam with different beam fluence rates were irradiated to a single crystal (SC)-CVD diamond film detector with thickness of 50μm. The responses to each ion were continuously observed and characterized by ion beam-induced charge (IBIC) measurement system. Heavy ions with short penetration path in diamond generate the large difference in mean path of electrons and holes, which is inverted by changing bias polarity. Signal degradation condition was relied on the bias polarity under the irradiation of heavy ions with short penetration length in the diamond. The continuous observation of IBIC signals revealed that temporal degradation in pulse height of signals, so called polarization effects, seems to be mainly caused by the hole trapping in this diamond crystal.

Gap junction communication and the propagation of bystander effects induced by microbeam irradiation in human fibroblast cultures: the impact of radiation quality.

Understanding the mechanisms underlying the bystander effects of low doses/low fluences of low- or high-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation is relevant to radiotherapy and radiation protection. Here, we investigated the role of gap-junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the propagation of stressful effects in confluent normal human fibroblast cultures wherein only 0.036-0.144% of cells in the population were traversed by primary radiation tracks. Confluent cells were exposed to graded doses from monochromatic 5.35 keV X ray (LET ~6 keV/μm), 18.3 MeV/u carbon ion (LET ~103 keV/μm), 13 MeV/u neon ion (LET ~380 keV/μm) or 11.5 MeV/u argon ion (LET ~1,260 keV/μm) microbeams in the presence or absence of 18-α-glycyrrhetinic acid (AGA), an inhibitor of GJIC. After 4 h incubation at 37°C, the cells were subcultured and assayed for micronucleus (MN) formation. Micronuclei were induced in a greater fraction of cells than expected based on the fraction of cells targeted by primary radiation, and the effect occurred in a dose-dependent manner with any of the radiation sources. Interestingly, MN formation for the heavy-ion microbeam irradiation in the absence of AGA was higher than in its presence at high mean absorbed doses. In contrast, there were no significant differences in cell cultures exposed to X-ray microbeam irradiation in presence or absence of AGA. This showed that the inhibition of GJIC depressed the enhancement of MN formation in bystander cells from cultures exposed to high-LET radiation but not low-LET radiation. Bystander cells recipient of growth medium harvested from 5.35 keV X-irradiated cultures experienced stress manifested in the form of excess micronucleus formation. Together, the results support the involvement of both junctional communication and secreted factor(s) in the propagation of radiation-induced stress to bystander cells. They highlight the important role of radiation quality and dose in the observed effects.

High energy heavy ion microbeam irradiation facility at IMP

A high energy heavy ion microbeam irradiation facility was designed and installed in the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It can deliver well-focused ions into the targets at exact locations. With the advantage of allowing vertical irradiation as well as focusing ions from Carbon to Uranium with high energies in a broad energy range (7MeV/u to 100MeV/u for Carbon ions), this setup is able to deliver a preset number of ions into pre-selected target positions. Material specimens in vacuum and living cells in air can also be irradiated by this facility. Detailed description of this microbeam facility as well as its beam optics is presented in this paper. Some preliminary test results are also given.

Radiation Biology of Caenorhabditis elegans: Germ Cell Response, Aging and Behavior

The study of radiation effect in Caenorhabditis (C.) elegans has been carried out over three decades and now allow for understanding at the molecular, cellular and individual levels. This review describes the current knowledge of the biological effects of ionizing irradiation with a scope of the germ line, aging and behavior. In germ cells, ionizing radiation induces apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and DNA repair. Lots of molecules involved in these responses and functions have been identified in C. elegans, which are highly conserved throughout eukaryotes. Radiosensitivity and the effect of heavy-ion microbeam irradiation on germ cells with relationship between initiation of meiotic recombination and DNA lesions are discussed. In addition to DNA damage, ionizing radiation produces free radicals, and the free radical theory is the most popular aging theory. A first signal transduction pathway of aging has been discovered in C. elegans, and radiation-induced metabolic oxidative stress is recently noted for an inducible factor of hormetic response and genetic instability. The hormetic response in C. elegans exposed to oxidative stress is discussed with genetic pathways of aging. Moreover, C. elegans is well known as a model organism for behavior. The recent work reported the radiation effects via specific neurons on learning behavior, and radiation and hydrogen peroxide affect the locomotory rate similarly. These findings are discussed in relation to the evidence obtained with other organisms. Altogether, C. elegans may be a good "in vivo" model system in the field of radiation biology.

Study of the aberrations of the IMP heavy ion microbeam irradiation system

A high energy heavy ion microbeam irradiation system is constructed at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). A quadrupole focusing system, in combination with a series of slits, has been designed here. The IMP microbeam system is described in detail. The intrinsic and parasitic aberrations associated with the magnets are simulated. The ion beam optics of this microbeam system is investigated systematically. Then the optimized initial beam parameters are given for high spatial resolution and high hitting rates.

Design of the IMP microbeam irradiation system for 100 MeV/u heavy ions

A state-of-the-art high energy heavy ion microbeam irradiation system is constructed at the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This microbeam system operates in both full current intensity mode and single ion mode. It delivers a predefined number of ions to pre-selected targets for research in biology and material science. The characteristic of this microbeam system is high energy and vertical irradiation. A quadrupole focusing system, in combination with a series of slits, has been designed to optimize the spatial resolution. A symmetrically achromatic system leads the beam downwards and serves simultaneously as an energy analyzer. A high gradient quadrupole triplet finally focuses a C6+ ion beam to 1 μm in the vacuum chamber within the energy range from 10 MeV/u to 100 MeV/u. In this paper, the IMP microbeam system is described in detail. A systematic investigation of the ion beam optics of this microbeam system is presented together with the associated aberrations. Comparison is made between the IMP microbeam system and the other existing systems to further discuss the performance of this microbeam. Then the optimized initial beam parameters are given for high resolution and high hitting efficiency. At last, the experiment platform is briefly introduced.

Targeted Heavy-Ion Microbeam Irradiation of the Embryo But Not Yolk in the Diapause-Terminated Egg of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, Induces The Somatic Mutation

Using heavy-ion microbeam, we report target irradiation of selected compartments within the diapause-terminated egg and its mutational consequences in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. On one hand, carbon-ion exposure of embryo to 0.5-6 Gy increased the somatic mutation frequency, suggesting targeted radiation effects. On the other, such increases were not observed when yolk was targeted, suggesting a lack of nontargeted bystander effect.

Effects of Locally Targeted Heavy-ion and Laser Microbeam on Root Hydrotropism in Arabidopsis thaliana

Classical studies on root hydrotropism have hypothesized the importance of columella cells as well as the de novo gene expression, such as auxin-inducible gene, at the elongation zone in hydrotropism; however, there has been no confirmation that columella cells or auxin-mediated signaling in the elongation zone are necessary for hydrotropism. We examined the role of root cap and elongation zone cells in root hydrotropism using heavy-ion and laser microbeam. Heavy-ion microbeam irradiation of the elongation zone, but not that of the columella cells, significantly and temporarily suppressed the development of hydrotropic curvature. However, laser ablation confirmed that columella cells are indispensable for hydrotropism. Systemic heavy-ion broad-beam irradiation suppressed de novo expression of INDOLE ACETIC ACID 5 gene, but not MIZU-KUSSEI1 gene. Our results indicate that both the root cap and elongation zone have indispensable and functionally distinct roles in root hydrotropism, and that de novo gene expression might be required for hydrotropism in the elongation zone, but not in columella cells.

Heavy Ion Microbeam Irradiation Induces Ultrastructural Changes in Isolated Single Fibers of Skeletal Muscle

The effects of heavy ion microbeams on muscle fibers isolated from mouse skeletal muscles were examined by electron microscopy. The plasma membranes of heavy ion beam-irradiated areas of muscle fibers showed irregular protrusions and invaginations. In the cytoplasm, an irregular distribution of microfilaments was found near the plasma membrane. Sarcoplasmic reticula in the irradiated regions showed a distended appearance with flocculent material within the lumen. These changes were seen as early as 2 min after irradiation, and persisted until as late as 22 min after irradiation. Many autophagic vacuoles could be seen at 7 min after irradiation. At 22 min, the vacuoles became more prominent and showed more variety. These observations suggest that heavy ion beam irradiation causes disruption of the cellular architecture and the autophagy is involved in removal of this disruption.

Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans germline cells following heavy-ion microbeam irradiation

Purpose: To investigate positional effects of radiation with an energetic heavy-ion microbeam on germline cells using an experimental model metazoan Caenorhabditis elegans.Materials and methods: The germline cells were irradiated with raster-scanned broad beam or collimated microbeam of 220 MeV 12C5+ particles delivered from the azimuthally varying field (AVF) cyclotron, and subsequently observed for cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.Results: Whole-body irradiation with the broad beam at the L4 larval stage arrested germ cell proliferation. When the tip region of the gonad arm was irradiated locally with the microbeam at the L4 stage, the same arrest was observed. When the microbeams were used to irradiate the pachytene region of the gonad arm, at a young gravid stage, radiation-induced apoptosis occurred in the gonad. In contrast, arrest and apoptosis were not induced in the non-irradiated neighboring region or the opposite gonad. Similar results were confirmed in the c-abl-1 (mammalian ortholog of cellular counterpart of Abelson murine leukemia virus) mutant that is hypersensitive to radiation-induced apoptosis.Conclusion: These results indicate that the microbeam irradiation is useful in characterizing tissue-specific, local biological response to radiation in organisms. DNA damage-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were observed in locally irradiated regions, but there was little, if any, ‘bystander effect’ in the nematode.

カイコ孵化幼虫真皮細胞への重イオンマイクロビーム照射によるコブ突然変異（Ｋ）の発現抑制

カイコ孵化幼虫真皮細胞への重イオンマイクロビーム照射によるコブ突然変異（Ｋ）の発現抑制

Biological effects of heavy ion microbeam irradiation to single tobacco BY-2 cells

Biological effects of heavy ion microbeam irradiation to single tobacco BY-2 cells

Effects of Heavy-Ion Microbeam-Irradiation on Phosphorylation of Histone H2AX

Effects of Heavy-Ion Microbeam-Irradiation on Phosphorylation of Histone H2AX