Surdutovich studies the interaction of radiation with tissue

Special Lecturer Eugene Surdutovich, of the Department of Physics, studies the interaction of radiation with tissue. In particular, his work focuses on using mathematical modeling to examine how high energy ions interact with DNA. Ions are increasingly used to treat cancer (e.g., proton therapy). In the February issue of Scientific Reports, Surdutovich published Biodamage Via Shock Waves Initiated by Irradiation With Ions (Volume 3, Article Number 1289). The abstract is given below.

Radiation damage following the ionising radiation of tissue has different scenarios and mechanisms depending on the projectiles or radiation modality. We investigate the radiation damage effects due to shock waves produced by ions. We analyse the strength of the shock wave capable of directly producing DNA strand breaks and, depending on the ion's linear energy transfer, estimate the radius from the ion's path, within which DNA damage by the shock wave mechanism is dominant. At much smaller values of linear energy transfer, the shock waves turn out to be instrumental in propagating reactive species formed close to the ion's path to large distances, successfully competing with diffusion.