Monte Carlo Simulation of the Radiation Environment Encountered by a Biochip During a Space Mission to Mars

Postollec, A. Le; Incerti, S.; Dobrijévic, M.; Desorgher, L.; Santin, G.; Moretto, Ph.; Vandenabeele-Trambouze, O.; Coussot, G.; Dartnell, Lewis; Nieminen, P.

doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0255

Cited by 29 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…9) In parallel Geant4 proposes sophisticated geometry modeling capabilities for example recently applied from the scale of biological cells to the scale of planets. [10][11] The platform is available freely on the Internet for several computing environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Radiation Chemistry in the Geant4 Toolkit

Karamitros

Mantero

Incerti

et al. 2011

Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology

101

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Simulation of biological effects of ionizing radiation at the DNA scale requires not only the modeling of direct damages induced on DNA by the incident radiation and by secondary particles but also the modeling of indirect effects of radiolytic products resulting from liquid water radiolysis. They can provoke single, double strand breaks and base damage by reacting with DNA. The Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit is currently being extended for the simulation of biological damages of ionizing radiation at the DNA scale in the framework of the "Geant4-DNA" project. Physics models for the modeling of direct effects are already available in Geant4. In the present paper, an approach for the modeling of radiation chemistry in pure liquid water within Geant4 is presented. In particular, this modeling includes Brownian motion and chemical reactions between molecules following water radiolysis. First results on time-dependent radiochemical yields from 1 picosecond up to 1 microsecond after irradiation are compared to published data and discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Radiation Chemistry in the Geant4 Toolkit

Karamitros

Mantero

Incerti

et al. 2011

Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology

101

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“…The use of immunosensors in planetary exploration requires antibodies that are resistant against gamma radiation (most abundant during spaceflight as estimated by Le Postollec et al, 2009b), high-energy radiation (protons, electrons, and alpha particles), microgravity, sudden temperature shifts, and so on. In a trip to Mars, for example, high-and low-energy radiation or sudden changes in temperature would have to be considered.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Antibody Microarrays for Space Missions: Effect of Long-Term Storage, Gamma Radiation, and Temperature Shifts on Printed and Fluorescently Labeled Antibodies

et al. 2011

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Antibody microarrays are becoming frequently used tools for analytical purposes. A key factor for optimal performance is the stability of the immobilized (capturing) antibodies as well as those that have been fluorescently labeled to achieve the immunological test (tracers). This is especially critical for long-distance transport, field testing, or planetary exploration. A number of different environmental stresses may affect the antibody integrity, such as dryness, sudden temperature shift cycles, or, as in the case of space science, exposure to large quantities of the highly penetrating gamma radiation. Here, we report on the effect of certain stabilizing solutions for long-term storage of printed antibody microarrays under different conditions. We tested the effect of gamma radiation on printed and freeze- or vacuum-dried fluorescent antibodies at working concentrations (tracer antibodies), as well as the effect of multiple cycles of sudden and prolonged temperature shifts on the stability of fluorescently labeled tracer antibody cocktails. Our results show that (i) antibody microarrays are stable at room temperature when printed on stabilizing spotting solutions for at least 6 months, (ii) lyophilized and vacuum-dried fluorescently labeled tracer antibodies are stable for more than 9 months of sudden temperature shift cycles (-20°C to 25°C and 50°C), and (iii) both printed and freeze- or vacuum-dried fluorescent tracer antibodies are stable after several-fold excess of the dose of gamma radiation expected during a mission to Mars. Although different antibodies may exhibit different susceptibilities, we conclude that, in general, antibodies are suitable for use in planetary exploration purposes if they are properly treated and stored with the use of stabilizing substances.

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“…Subsequently, many months may pass on the surface while the host rover explores terrain and characterizes outcrops, before a location that stands the greatest chance of containing detectable organic matter is identified. During this time, the surfactant solution would be exposed to further cosmic and solar particle irradiation, albeit attenuated by the thin atmosphere of Mars (e.g., Dartnell et al, 2007;Parnell et al, 2007, and references therein;Le Postollec et al, 2009), and also to variations in temperature resulting from solar radiation and martian weather. Therefore, the stability of a surfactant solution over many months is of great importance to those who seek to use such a solvent in an instrument with the intent to extract organic matter from the rocks of Mars.…”

Section: Surfactants For Extraterrestrial Organic Extractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Searching for Life on Mars: Degradation of Surfactant Solutions Used in Organic Extraction Experiments

et al. 2014

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Life-detection instruments on future Mars missions may use surfactant solutions to extract organic matter from samples of martian rocks. The thermal and radiation environments of space and Mars are capable of degrading these solutions, thereby reducing their ability to dissolve organic species. Successful extraction and detection of biosignatures on Mars requires an understanding of how degradation in extraterrestrial environments can affect surfactant performance. We exposed solutions of the surfactants polysorbate 80 (PS80), Zonyl FS-300, and poly[dimethylsiloxane-co-[3-(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy)propyl]methylsiloxane] (PDMSHEPMS) to elevated radiation and heat levels, combined with prolonged storage. Degradation was investigated by measuring changes in pH and electrical conductivity and by using the degraded solutions to extract a suite of organic compounds spiked onto grains of the martian soil simulant JSC Mars-1. Results indicate that the proton fluences expected during a mission to Mars do not cause significant degradation of surfactant compounds. Solutions of PS80 or PDMSHEPMS stored at -20°C are able to extract the spiked standards with acceptable recovery efficiencies. Extraction efficiencies for spiked standards decrease progressively with increasing temperature, and prolonged storage at 60°C renders the surfactant solutions ineffective. Neither the presence of ascorbic acid nor the choice of solvent unequivocally alters the efficiency of extraction of the spiked standards. Since degradation of polysorbates has the potential to produce organic compounds that could be mistaken for indigenous martian organic matter, the polysiloxane PDMSHEPMS may be a superior choice of surfactant for the exploration of Mars.

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Monte Carlo Simulation of the Radiation Environment Encountered by a Biochip During a Space Mission to Mars

Cited by 29 publications

References 19 publications

Modeling Radiation Chemistry in the Geant4 Toolkit

Modeling Radiation Chemistry in the Geant4 Toolkit

Assessing Antibody Microarrays for Space Missions: Effect of Long-Term Storage, Gamma Radiation, and Temperature Shifts on Printed and Fluorescently Labeled Antibodies

Searching for Life on Mars: Degradation of Surfactant Solutions Used in Organic Extraction Experiments

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