Bulletin of ANPA

Abstract submitted to ANPA Conference July 14–16, 2023

Volume 5, Number 1

Biological, Medical, Soft Matter and Chemical Physics

Abstract ID: ANPA2023-N00042

Abstract:

ANPA2023-N00042: Muon in biology: applications in cancer research

Authors:

• Amba Datt Pant; KEK/J-PARC, Japan

Muon method (known as muon spin rotation, relaxation and resonance method, μSR method) is used to understand the local electronic and dynamic states of materials in which muon stops. In this method, we use quantum beam of muon available in accelerator facility (for some purposes, muons from cosmic ray are also used). Muon, a light proton, is a spin half particle with larger gyromagnetic ratio (around three times higher than that of proton) which makes it more sensitive to magnetic field in materials. Its bound state with an electron known as muonium (Mu = μ+e-) which is like a light isotope of hydrogen. For life sciences study, muon method can probe the dynamics of electron, proton, ions, H, O2, reaction, catalytic processes, concentration of molecules, magnetic behaviors, etc. and phenomena based on these processes (like electron transfer in respiratory system, photosynthesis process, diagnosis of disease, clinical and medical areas). We apply μSR method to understand electron transfer in proteins, and to visualize O2 in tumor to develop a noninvasive tool for diagnosis and treatment of life threating disease like cancer. Low oxygen concentrations (called hypoxia) detection plays an important role in diagnosis/treatment of tumors [1] and cancer [2-3]. Even though there are some existing methods for the detection of molecular oxygen in tissues, new noninvasive methods to visualize hypoxic areas (extent and spatial distribution) in tumors of patients are still needed [2-4]. The oxygen concentration in human tumors is heterogeneous with some regions at low levels (less than 0.26 g/L of oxygen which is equivalent to less than 0.7% oxygen in gas phase) [5]. It is imperative to develop a tool/method to detect oxygen in the range from such a small concentration to normal oxygen level eventually in the human body especially in tissues in cancer patients. Based on spin-exchange interaction between Mu and paramagnetic molecular oxygen, we have tested the sensitivity of the muon method for detection of O2 [6] and successfully detected O2 concentration in dilute biological aqueous solutions (solutions of Hb, albumin, serum and tris-buffered saline (TBS)) [7]. In the program, starting from an overview of muon in biology, our so far achievements and current status of systematic study towards the goal will be presented.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: https://anpaglobal.org/conference/2023/ANPA2023-N00042