Biomedical subjects

Jenny L Whitlock

Publications and source records attributed to Jenny L Whitlock.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Image processing tools for alpha-particle track-etch dosimetry.

In cases where both the source and cell geometry are well known, track-etch dosimetry allows the potential for individual cell dosimetry. However, analysis of track-etch images is both tedious and time-consuming. We describe here several image processing tools that we are using in conjunction with a track-etch based irradiator. Briefly, cells grown on LR 115 (a track-etch material) are irradiated from below by a collimated, planar alpha-particle source. Prior to irradiation, images of the cells are obtained. A computer program reads each image and automatically determines the location of individual cells. Next, the algorithm automatically identifies the cellular and nuclear boundaries. Following irradiation, and after the cells have reached their biological endpoint (e.g., cell survival), the cell dish is etched and images are obtained of alpha-particle tracks. Using the characteristic background pattern in the LR 115, the etched images are spatially registered to the original images. These two sets of images are then superimposed to create a composite image of the cells and associated alpha-particle tracks. Incorporating this tool into our irradiation scheme will enable more efficient analysis of the large amounts of data that are essential in assessing biological endpoints.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

Characterization of an alpha-particle irradiator for individual cell dosimetry measurements.

A computer-controlled, alpha-particle irradiator is described that allows for the measurement of the number and location of alpha-particle hits to individual cell nuclei, and subsequent scoring of cell survival. Cells are grown on a track-etch material (LR 115) and images are obtained of the cells prior to irradiation. The cells are then irradiated from below by a planar, collimated Am-241 source. The exposure time is varied so that the average number of hits to cell nuclei ranges from 0 to 3. After cell survival has been scored, images of the etched material are obtained and spatially registered to the original cell images. The etched images and cellular images are superimposed allowing for the determination of the number and position of hits to individual cell nuclei. This paper characterizes the irradiator including the energy and fluence of the incident alpha particles. Additionally, we describe the sources of uncertainty associated with this experiment, including the cell dish repositioning and cell migration during scanning and irradiation.

Alpha Particles↗

PubMed2003

Binary methods for the microdosimetric analysis of cell survival data from alpha-particle irradiation.

A new type of alpha-particle irradiator allows survival of each cell to be observed individually along with the size and shape of its nucleus and the positions of the hits it receives. This paper discusses methods of data analysis that can utilize these additional data. Using idealizations of the cell nucleus geometry (i.e., spheres, ellipsoids), the path length (l), energy deposited (e), and specific energy (z) has been determined on a cell-by-cell basis for 772 cells all subjected to the same fluence. Each cell is regarded as a Bernoulli trial with a different probability for success (colony formation). For the survival expectation, A exp(-z/z(o)), the values of A and z(o) are chosen to maximize the likelihood for the observed outcome. Similar results are presented using the alternate functional forms A exp(-e/e(o)) and A exp(-l/l(o)). With these parameter values, the goodness of fit is also evaluated using a chi-square method with variances given by the binary (Bernoulli) methods. A further purpose of the paper is to assess the validity of the microdosimetric computations that would have had to be made if these individual cell-by-cell experimental measurements were not available or were incomplete.

Alpha Particles↗