Can positronium fragment complex molecules?

正电子素可以使复杂分子碎裂吗？

• 批准号: DE160100098
• 负责人: Dr Joshua Machacek
• 金额: $ 28.28万
• 依托单位: The Australian National University
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2016-06-23 至 2019-06-22
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/DE160100098
• 关键词: positronium; fragment; complex; molecules

This project aims to explore whether positronium, which is produced in the body during positron emission tomography (PET), can damage DNA. PET scans are used to locate cancer. Positrons produce positronium, a matter-antimatter bound state, in the body during a PET scan. It is known that electrons can damage DNA by forming a transient negative ion that fragments DNA building blocks and it is suggested that positronium could damage DNA in the same way. This work will explore fragmentation of DNA nucleobases by positronium impact. The results of this work may contribute to new models of PET use.

该项目旨在探索正电子发射断层扫描（PET）在体内产生的正电子离子是否会损伤DNA。PET扫描是用来定位癌症的。正电子在PET扫描时产生正电子，这是一种物质与反物质结合的状态。众所周知，电子可以通过形成短暂的负离子来破坏DNA，从而破坏DNA的组成部分，有人认为正电子离子也可以以同样的方式破坏DNA。这项工作将探索DNA核碱基的碎片通过正电子撞击。这项工作的结果可能有助于PET使用的新模式。