Speaker
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
Richard Newman, rtnewman@sun.ac.za
Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
Yes
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
Yes
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD)?
MSc
Abstract content <br> (Max 300 words)
The study investigates the determination and quantization of radiation damage on a cellular level and the replication of this energy deposition using the Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit, developed for particle transportation simulations at CERN. The detection of micronuclei in binucleated cells was used to analyse the effects of the radiation. Results from micronucleus assays of rat brain endothelial and Chinese hamster ovary cells that have been irradiated with gamma rays, produced by a Co-60 teletherapy unit at iThemba LABS, are presented. Linear-quadratic dose response curves were determined for both cell lines and compared to those of other ionizing radiations. Additionally discussed are the simulated results of the Co-60 setup, irradiation and other relevant features offered by the Geant4 toolkit. Finally, prospective microdosimetric studies and simulations of damage caused by DNA-incorporated I-123 will be mentioned.
