Presenter of 1 Presentation
INVESTIGATION OF THE FLASH EFFECT HYPOTHESIS THROUGH RADIOBIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS AND MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS, EVALUATING THE USE OF ORGAN-ON-A-CHIPS
Abstract
Background and Aims
Despite FLASH radiotherapy is attracting an increasing interest in the last few years, a clear explanation of the FLASH effect still needs to be addressed. In this context, the project aims to investigate the FLASH effect correlating radiobiological measurements with modeling and simulations, with the goal to explore current hypotheses of oxygen depletion and tissue immune-response.
Methods
An experimental setup has been designed for irradiating 2D cell culture under controlled oxygen levels. The biological response will be matched by simulation of radical production and interactions using Monte Carlo approaches. Additionally, we are evaluating to use Organ-On-A-Chip technology to investigate the tissue immune-response to ultra-high dose-rate. Currently, there are very few data in the literature for what concerns the use of Organ-On-A-Chip for radiobiological purposes. The Organ-On-A-Chip microchamber allows different cells of the same tissue to be seeded separated by a porous membrane allowing the cells to interact between them as would happen in a real tissue. Liver, lung and brain models have been developed and successfully used for drug studies.
Results
These preliminary data will provide better understanding of the response of Organ-on-a-chips to radiation with the possibility to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different radiation exposure modalities at tissue level. Following the irradiation, the Organ-On-A-Chip can be processed using conventional radiobiological assays (immunofluorescence staining for DNA damages, live/dead staining, staining of ROS…) and possibly histology techniques.
Conclusions
The controlled environment of these chips makes them an interesting and promising subject of investigation for addressing the FLASH effect, particularly regarding the immune-response hypothesis.
Author Of 1 Presentation
INVESTIGATION OF THE FLASH EFFECT HYPOTHESIS THROUGH RADIOBIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS AND MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS, EVALUATING THE USE OF ORGAN-ON-A-CHIPS
Abstract
Background and Aims
Despite FLASH radiotherapy is attracting an increasing interest in the last few years, a clear explanation of the FLASH effect still needs to be addressed. In this context, the project aims to investigate the FLASH effect correlating radiobiological measurements with modeling and simulations, with the goal to explore current hypotheses of oxygen depletion and tissue immune-response.
Methods
An experimental setup has been designed for irradiating 2D cell culture under controlled oxygen levels. The biological response will be matched by simulation of radical production and interactions using Monte Carlo approaches. Additionally, we are evaluating to use Organ-On-A-Chip technology to investigate the tissue immune-response to ultra-high dose-rate. Currently, there are very few data in the literature for what concerns the use of Organ-On-A-Chip for radiobiological purposes. The Organ-On-A-Chip microchamber allows different cells of the same tissue to be seeded separated by a porous membrane allowing the cells to interact between them as would happen in a real tissue. Liver, lung and brain models have been developed and successfully used for drug studies.
Results
These preliminary data will provide better understanding of the response of Organ-on-a-chips to radiation with the possibility to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different radiation exposure modalities at tissue level. Following the irradiation, the Organ-On-A-Chip can be processed using conventional radiobiological assays (immunofluorescence staining for DNA damages, live/dead staining, staining of ROS…) and possibly histology techniques.
Conclusions
The controlled environment of these chips makes them an interesting and promising subject of investigation for addressing the FLASH effect, particularly regarding the immune-response hypothesis.