Millimeter-Wave Irradiation Dosimetry for Cells Cultured in Petri Dish

Abstract

Millimeter-wave (MMW) irradiation dosimetry is carried out for experiments on MMW biological effects in the cellular level with the Petri dish serving as the cell container holding the cell suspension or the cell monolayer. Calculated with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical technique and the second order approximation of the absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs), the MMW power density (PD) and the MMW power absorption density (PAD) in the cell suspension in the Petri dish are provided as their distributions on selected cross sections through the dish. For experiments using the cell monolayer, additional data are provided on the MMW specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution over the monolayer as well as the induced current density distribution. Also given are statistical descriptions on the uniformity of the MMW irradiation dose distribution. The results are not only useful for the MMW irradiation dose evaluation in the experimental setup described in this study, but also helpful in revealing the problem of experimental dosimetry in in vitro studies on MMW biological effects on cells, since the conclusion drawn from the present findings is that the MMW irradiation dose distribution in the Petri dish is very irregular and far from uniformity, which should be seriously considered in related experiments.