Iranian Journal of Medical Physics

Iranian Journal of Medical Physics

Monte Carlo Simulation of DNA Break Prediction Following Electron Irradiation Using Geant4-DNA Toolkit

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors
Omar Qasim 1
Ali Hussain Taqi 2
Shilan Jabbar 3
1 Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq
2 Physics Dept., College of Science,kirkuk University ,Kirkuk, IRAQ
3 Department of Biology, College of Education for Women, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq
10.22038/ijmp.2026.92994.2655
Abstract
Introduction: The interaction of ionizing radiation with cells involves complex physical and chemical processes that can cause single-strand breaks (SSB) and double-strand breaks (DSB). DSB is one of the most deleterious forms of DNA damage caused by radiation exposure and is also poorly repaired. Misrepaired or unrepaired damage can finally lead to genomic mutations, which may initiate cancer or cell death.
Material and Methods: The Monte Carlo simulation toolkit Geant4-DNA is used in this study to simulate the physical and chemical processes that can damage the DNA of human fibroblast cells resulting from an incident electron on the DNA.
Results: Electrons are classified as low-Linear Energy Transfer (LET) radiation, typically depositing energy at a rate of approximately 0.2 to 15 keV µm-1 in water or soft tissue; therefore, we examined the occurrence of SSB and DSB vs. electron energy of 0.5, 0.8, 1, 10, and 100 keV. Since there are no published data for human fibroblast cells, our simulation results were compared with available experimental data and findings from other simulation models of other cell types. Our results demonstrated consistent agreement with previously published studies.
Conclusion: The outcomes of our simulation, using the Monte Carlo simulation Geant4-DNA code with the “molecular DNA” based on G4EmDNAPhysics_option6 and G4EmDNAChemistry_option3, are in line with experimental data and simulation results of other cells that have already been published. The maximum DSB value was about 1 keV, with an LET value of about 10 keV μm-1.
Keywords
DNA DamageMonte Carlo Simulation Geant4
DNA
Subjects
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Iranian Journal of Medical Physics
Volume 23, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
March and April 2026
Pages 117-123

  • Receive Date 25 November 2025
  • Revise Date 11 May 2026
  • Accept Date 13 May 2026