Elucidation of the mechanism of biomolecular damage in liquid water that occurs on a nanoscale by ion beams

Tsuchida, Hidetsugu*; Majima, Takuya*; Kai, Takeshi   

In recent years, basic research has been conducted to understand the biological effects of radiation at the atomic level toward advancing particle beam cancer treatment. Here we show some recent results on the basic process of biomolecular damage caused by ion beams in liquid water. A biomolecular solution target was introduced to the vacuum by a liquid molecular beam or microdroplet method. Secondary ion mass spectrometry was applied to measure the fragments of biomolecules emitted from a target irradiated with an ion beam. For the simulation study using a PHITS code, physical nature of secondary electrons produced by ion beam in water was analyzed. The experimental and simulation research determined the energy range of secondary electrons involved in damaging biomolecules in liquid water caused by ion beams. The damage process by secondary electrons near the ion track is described.