1. Modelling radiation damage in cellular systems
Supervision team: Nigel Mason, Jim Hague (Physics), Andrey Solov’yov
Lead contact: nigel.mason@open.ac.uk
Description: This project provides an opportunity to work in the field of radiation damage in collaboration
with both the Portuguese led Radiation Biology and Biophysics (RaBBiT) doctoral training course and the Marie
Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) ARGENT (Advanced Radiotherapy, Generated by Exploiting Nano processes
and Technologies). The research programme combines Physics: explaining the delivery of radiation and the
physical interactions of the radiation; Chemistry: describing the chemical processes induced by the physical
interactions and providing the methodology for tailoring of nanoscale agents to specific functions; Biology:
elucidating the effects of chemical changes on the cells, organs and patient, assaying for damage and delivery
of nanomaterials; Medicine: integrating developments into clinical cancer therapy facilities; and Business:
deriving economic benefit from the discovery of nanomaterials and simulation tools to predict individual
protocols. Thus the successful applicant will have the opportunity to form links and gain experience in a range
of topics beyond that of their immediate research project.
This project will be focused on the development of a model for simulating the effects of radiation on cellular
systems using a new and unique MBN Explorer software, http://www.mbnexplorer.com/. MBN Explorer will be
used to the study of interactions between the incident radiation (X-ray or ions) and biological environment
(water, DNA, proteins, lipids, etc.) with the aim of elucidating which bonds in the biomolecules are most
susceptible to damage. In collaboration with other PhD students the model may then be used to explore the
role different radio sensitizers in inducing such band breaks (and hence cell death) such that radiotherapy can
be improved as a clinical method. This project would suit someone with an interest in and knowledge of
programming and software. The student will spend some time at MBN Explorer HQ in Frankfurt to receive
additional training in the use of the software.
References
1) Eugene Surdutovich and Andrey V. Solov’yov, “Multiscale approach to the physics of radiation damage with
ions”, Eur. Phys. J. D, vol. 68, 353 (2014)
2) Alexey Verkhovtsev, Andrei V. Korol, and Andrey V. Solov'yov, “Revealing the mechanism of the low-energy
electron yield enhancement from sensitizing nanoparticles”, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 114, 063401 (20MBN
Explorer: Simulations of Nanomaterials Structure and Dynamics
3) I.A. Solov’yov, G.B. Sushko, A.V. Verkhovtsev, A.V. Korol, A.V. Solov’yov, MBN Explorer: Simulations of
Nanomaterials Structure and Dynamics, Monograph, Polytechnic University Publishing House, St. Petersburg
State Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg (2015), pp. 1-102, ISBN 978-5-7422-4893-415)
4) Radiation damage of biomolecular systems: Nano-scale insights into Ion-beam cancer therapy. 2nd Nano-
IBCT conference M A Smiałek,P Limão-Vieira, N J Mason, and A V Solov'yov, European Physical Journal D 68
d140612 (2014)
5) DNA damage induced by carbon ions (C3+) beam accessed by independent component analysis of infrared
spectra M Raposo, M Coelho, P J Gomes, P Vieira, P A , Ribeiro, N J Mason, C A Hunniford, and R W
McCullough International Journal of Radiation Biology 90 344-350 (2014)
Qualifications required: A first class or upper second class MSci degree in Physics /Chemistry or related
discipline. Previous experience in using and developing software will be an advantage.