Sèche, E., Sabattier, R., Bajard, J-C., Blondiaux, G., Breteau, N., Spotheim-Maurizot, M. and Charlier, M. Direct Effect in DNA Radiolysis. Boron Neutron Capture Enhancement of Radiolysis in a Medical Fast-Neutron Beam. Radiat. Res. 158, 292–301 (2002).

This paper is devoted to the study of the molecular basis of the boron neutron capture enhancement of fast-neutron radiotherapy. Plasmid DNA was irradiated with a medical fast-neutron beam in the presence of either ¹⁰B or ¹¹B. The number of induced SSBs and DSBs was much higher in samples containing ¹⁰B compared to ¹¹B. The additional breaks are attributed to the nuclear reaction ¹⁰B(n, α)⁷Li induced by the capture by ¹⁰B of thermal neutrons produced in the medium by scattering and slowing down of neutrons. Irradiation in the presence of DMSO (OH radical scavenger) allows the number of nonscavengeable breaks to be determined. The ratio DSB/SSB is within the range of those observed with heavy ions, in good agreement with the hypothesis that the additional breaks are due to α particles and recoil lithium nuclei. The simulation of the energy deposition along the paths of the α and ⁷Li particles allows the calculation of core and penumbra track volumes. Further, the number of plasmids encountered by the core and the penumbra was evaluated. Their number was compared to the nonscavengeable additional breaks. Since the two sets of values are of the same order of magnitude, we conclude that the nonscavengeable additional SSBs and DSBs could be due to direct effects.