Current Instrumentation and Technologies in Modern Radiobiology Research-Opportunities and Challenges

There is a growing awareness of the gaps in the technical methods employed in radiation biology experiments. These quality gaps can have a substantial effect on the reliability and reproducibility of results as outlined in several recent meta-studies. This is especially true in the context of the newer laboratory irradiation technologies. These technologies allow for delivery of highly localized dose distributions and increased spatial accuracy but also present increased challenges of their own. In this article, we highlight some of the features of the new technologies and the experiments they support; this includes image-guided localized radiation systems, microirradiator systems using carbon nanotubes and physical radiation modifiers like gold nanoparticles. We discuss the key technical issues related to the consistency and quality of modern radiation biology experiments including dosimetry protocols that are essential to all experiments, quality assurance approaches, methods to validate physical radiation targeting including immunohistochemical assays and other biovalidation approaches. We highlight the future needs in terms of education and training and the creation of tools for cross-institutional benchmarking quality in preclinical studies. The demands for increased experimental rigor are challenging but can be met with an awareness and a systematic approach which ensures quality.