Mass attenuation coefficient, stopping power, and penetrating distance calculations via Monte Carlo simulations for cell membranes

DOI: 10.48129/kjs.15657

Abstract

The cell membrane envelops the cell and communicates with the environment, protects it mechanically, allows the molecules (ions, water, oxygen, etc.) from the environment to be transported into the cell, secretion, and excretion products selectively or passively outside the cell. In addition, the cell membrane allows the cell to attach to the surrounding structures and to be recognized. Biochemically, cell membranes contain fat, protein, and a small number of carbohydrate molecules. Most of the oils are made up of phospholipids, consisting of a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tail parts. Phospholipids form two layers in which hydrophobic parts of the cell membrane are located opposite each other. Furthermore, radiation has the ability to directly impact biological cell organelles. In our study, the mass attenuation coefficient, stopping power, and penetrating distance calculations have been done for cell membranes having an approximately 60-100Å thickness. These calculations have been done for lipid bilayer structure of cell membrane up to 10 MeV photon energy via Monte Carlo Methods employing two simulation software which are SRIM (The Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter) and MCNP (Monte Carlo N-Particle). Obtained results from two different codes have been visualized by graphing for evaluation.