Geno- and Cytotoxic Effects of Ytterbium-169 γ-Irradiation on Human Cells in Culture
The radiobiological properties of a low-intensity γ-radiation isotope of 169Yb have been studied. The source was represented as a ceramic core made of enriched ytterbium sealed in hermetic titanium shell. The effect of radiation on the proliferation, cell cycle progression, the level of chromosomal aberrations and apoptosis in the carcinoma cells (HeLa-G63 line) and human endothelial cells (ECV304 line) have been studied. It has been revealed that ytterbium irradiation of cells at the doses of 0.33-1.2 Gy leads to blockage in the G2/M cell cycle phases. Blocking cell progression is dose-dependent and becomes irreversible, resulting in cell death. The results may be interesting for clinical application of ytterbium brachytherapy sources.