Photonics probing of DNA specific spatial mass density fluctuations in gut cell nuclei due to total body irradiation via confocal imaging

TL;DR

This study uses confocal imaging and light localization techniques to analyze how total body irradiation affects the nanoscale structural mass density fluctuations of DNA in gut cell nuclei, revealing radiation-induced suppression of these fluctuations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of the inverse participation ratio (IPR) technique to quantify DNA density fluctuations post-irradiation in gut tissues.

Findings

Radiation suppresses DNA spatial mass density fluctuations.

Post-irradiation, DNA density fluctuations show reduction and saturation over time.

Confocal imaging combined with IPR effectively characterizes nanoscale structural alterations.

Abstract

Abnormalities within cells result in nanoscale structural alterations can be characterized via confocal imaging and quantification of these alterations. Accidental or deliberate exposure to total body irradiation (TBI) have adverse effects on the nuclear DNAs of cells. Here, we study the DNA molecular mass density spatial structural alterations of chromatin in cell nuclei of gut tissues caused by the exposure to standard doses of 4Gy TBI, using the light localization technique called inverse participation ratio (IPR) in confocal images. Results indicate radiation suppresses DNA spatial mass density fluctuations. And hence, reduction and saturation in DNA density fluctuations are observed for different durations of post-irradiation.