Study of biological effects by ultra-soft X rays on V79 cell line: preliminary results

Abstract

Radiobiological studies essentially focuse on DNA damage, according to a dose-dependant approach. The use of ultra-soft X-rays (500 eV) allows us to determine the biological effects from the damage on peripheral and cytoplasmatic structures, such as plasmatic membrane and organelles, without DNA is involved directly by radiation. The in vitro model chosen is V79 cell line (isolated from the lung of a normal Chinese Hamster). To reach this aim, we have developed: • an experimental layout to obtain ultra-soft X rays from monocromatic spherical mirror (500eV) and a second apparatus based on a plane copper mirror at grazing angular incidence (300-510 eV); • a custom biological sample holder, in order to be trasparent to X rays and visible light and realized by biocompatible materials; • analysis methods based on mycroscopy observation with appropriate set-up and study of different end-points as viability assay and ROS detection. In this article, we present the preliminary results and apparatus.