RADIATION

BIOLOGY
Lecture 1:
INTRODUCTION
 Radiation biology
Radiation biology is the study of the action of
ionizing radiation on living organisms

The action is very complex, involving physics,

chemistry, and biology
Different types of ionizing radiation
Energy absorption at the atomic and
molecular level leads to biological damage
Repair of damage in living organisms
 Radiation biology
Basic principles are used in radiation therapy
with the objective to treat cancer with minimal
damage to the normal tissues

Radiation
Energy emitted from a source

Examples include:

Light from the Sun

Microwaves from Oven
X-rays from X-Ray Tubes
Gamma Rays from Radioactive Elements
 Ionizing Radiation
Is radiation with enough energy so that during
an interaction with atom, it can remove tightly
bound electrons from the orbit of an atom to
become charge or ionized.
 Ionization
Although we tend to think of biological effects
in terms of the effect of radiation on living cells,
in actuality, ionizing radiation, by definition,
interacts only with atoms by a process called
ionization.

Thus, all biological damage effects begin with

the consequence of radiation interactions with
the atoms forming the cells.
Radiation causes ionization of:
Cellular damage
Cellular damage
 Cellular damage
Even though all subsequent biological effects
can be traced back to the interaction of
radiation with atoms, there are two
mechanisms by which radiation ultimately
affects cells. These two mechanisms are
commonly called direct and indirect effects.
 DIRECT DAMAGE
radiation interacts
with the atoms of
the DNA molecule,
or some other
cellular component
critical to the
survival of the cell,
 DIRECT DAMAGE
Such an interaction If enough atoms are affected
may affect the ability such that the chromosomes
of the cell to do not replicate properly, or
if there is significant
reproduce and, thus,
alteration in the information
survive. carried by the DNA molecule,
then the cell may be
destroyed by direct
interference with its life-
sustaining system.
 Indirect effect
If a cell is exposed to
radiation, the probability of
the radiation interacting with
the DNA molecule is very
small since these critical
components make up such a
small part of the cell.

Radiolytic Decomposition of Water in a

Cell
 Indirect effect
However, each cell, just as is
the case for the human body,
is mostly water.

Therefore, there is a much

higher probability of radiation
interacting with the water
that makes up most of the
cells volume.
Radiolytic Decomposition of Water in a
Cell
 Indirect effect
When radiation interacts with
water, it may break the bonds
that hold the water molecule
together, producing
fragments such as hydrogen
(H) and hydroxyls (OH).

Radiolytic Decomposition of Water in a

Cell
 Indirect effect
These fragments may
recombine or may interact
with other fragments or ions
to form compounds, such as
water, which would not harm
the cell.

Radiolytic Decomposition of Water in a

Cell
 Indirect effect
However, they could combine
to form toxic substances, such
as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2),
which can contribute to the
destruction of the cell.

Radiolytic Decomposition of Water in a

Cell
 Indirect effect
Indirectly ionizing radiation give up their energy in the absorber to
produce fast-moving charged particles

Typically involves a free radical.

A free atom or molecule carrying an unpaired orbital electron in the

outer shell.

Associated with high degree of chemical reactivity.Formed from

interactions with water (or other atom or molecule) and diffuses to
reach and damage the critical targets (principally DNA).
 Indirect effect
FREE RADICAL PRODUCTION

Usually involve water molecules - 80% of a cell is composed of

water.

The water molecule is ionized following interaction with a photon

or a charged particle.

H2O+ is an ion radical - electrically charged and contains an

unpaired electron in the outer shell
 Indirect effect
FREE RADICAL PRODUCTION

The ion radical reacts with another water molecule to form the
highly reactive hydroxyl radical.

The hydroxyl radical diffuses to the critical target in a cell, and is

estimated to cause approximately two thirds of the x-ray damage
to mammalian cell DNA.
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks
Direct vs. Indirect Actions for X-rays
Dna strand breaks