Photonics probing of structural alterations in DNA specific mass density fluctuations in nuclei due to total body irradiation (TBI) via confocal imaging

The quantification of structural alternation in cells at the nanoscale can provide a range of cellular information. Structural alteration in cells may result due to irradiation. Accidental or deliberate exposure to total body irradiation (TBI) has adverse effects on the nuclear DNAs of cells. Here, we report a quantitative analysis of the molecular specific DNA mass density spatial structural changes in gut cell nuclei due to 4 Gy gamma TBI. The structural changes in nuclei due to TBI are studied by quantifying the DNA molecular specific light localization properties. The DNA mass density fluctuations are probed by using a recently developed inverse participation ratio (IPR) technique, on DAPI stained DNA/chromatin molecular mass density via confocal imaging. The gastrointestinal tract is the major target of TBI. So, using the IPR technique nuclei of mice gut cells are studied. The result shows that irradiation effects vary with the post-irradiation time and have adverse effects on the DNA molecular spatial structural arrangement. Our results indicate radiation suppresses DNA spatial mass density fluctuations. And hence, reduction and saturation in DNA density fluctuations are observed on different durations of post-irradiation.