A comparative study of the biological effectiveness of 14-MeV neutron pulse and continuous radiation using mouse melanoma B-16 cells

Abstract

The study was carried out using compact neutron generators with a sealed tube operating in pulsed (neutron generator ING-031) and continuous (NG-14) modes. Neutron radiation was formed due to reaction T(d,n)(4)He. The average flow of 14-MeV neutrons was 6.6×10(9) ns(-1) for ING-031 and 1.2-1.6×10(10) n s(-1) for NG-14. Duration of an impulse was ∼1 ms and pulse frequency of 50 Hz. The gamma rays of (60)Со source with an average energy of 1.25 MeV were standard radiation. Biological efficacy was estimated using the clonogenic activity of mice melanoma B-16 cells. Comparison of biological effects of neutron irradiation in pulse and continuous modes showed no significant difference between them. RBE values of pulse (ING-031) and continuous (NG-14) neutron radiation were equal-in the range of 2.4-2.6. According to the clonogenic activity of melanoma B-16 cells no dose rate effect was observed within the studied range of neutrons doses and dose rates.