Cell survival curve

Very high amounts of radiation (10,000 rads or 100 Gy) can cause complete abatement of cellular function (cell death).

[4] Clonogenic survival assays begin by harvesting from a growing cell stock through gentle scraping and application of Trypsin.

Target theory shows many different types of models that help to explain the role radiation plays in cell death or injury.

The single-target single-hit model states that there is a single target that must be hit by radiation in order to inactive a cell.

Essentially, radiation targeting in this model is random and must hit a specific location on the cell, such as the DNA, to inactivate it.

After the limit of the cell’s machinery is reached, the repair model generally notes that if any damage is left unhealed the dying process will be initiated.

Synthesis of the repair models and the target theory help explain cell death in the face of radiation, noting two different mechanisms.

These models reflect the fact that cell survival fractions are exponential functions with a dose-dependent term in the exponent due to the Poisson statistics underlying the Stochastic process.

One such application is Dose–response relationship, or the examination of the minimum required dose of radiation it takes to receive certain therapeutic outcomes including cell inactivation.

There are clinical applications that highlight things such as Focused ultrasound and Gamma knife surgeries and procedures to treat brain tumors, abnormal blood vessels, etc.