Abstract
Introduction: In multi-well cell culture plates, wells are bordered by air cavities. The air cavity inhomogeneities can reduce the amount of delivered dose. In this study, the effect of these cavities on cell survival was investigated.
Materials and methods: A special phantom was designed to house the plates and air cavities were filled by water equivalent materials. Cultured melanoma cells were irradiated using 6MV photon for 200 cGy. MTT and clonogenic assay tests were used to evaluate cell survival.
Results: Results of MTT assay showed mean survival percentage for irradiated cells in the first group, i.e. plates with air cavities, was 18.9% higher than the second group with air cavities filled with paraffin. Clonogenic assay results showed a maximum of 37% difference in the mean of number of colonies between the first group and the second group (p value < .05).
Conclusions: The presence of air cavities in multi-well cell culture plates reduced radiation cell kill by up to 37%. To ensure the accuracy of delivered dose, it is necessary to replace the air cavities as well as the air surrounding the plates by a water equivalent material.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Bibi Fatemeh Mahdavi
Bibi Fatemeh Mahdavi, PhD, recently graduated from the Medical Physics Department in the School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Her research field is radiobiology.
Azade Taheri
Azade Taheri, PhD, is an academic staff member of the Department of Pharmaceutics, Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Her research field is Novel Drug Delivery Systems.
Seyed Hossein Hejazi
Seyed Hossein Hejazi, PhD, is an academic staff member and dean of the Research Laboratory of the Center for Research in Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. His research field is Leishmaniasis.
Ardeshir Talebi
Ardeshir Talebi, PhD, is an academic staff member of the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. His research field is Pathology.
Parvaneh Shokrani
Parvaneh Shokrani, PhD, is a clinical Medical Physicist and Professor of Medical Physics in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Her research fields are radiation dosimetry and radiation protection.