Low-Energy (3−24 eV) Electron Damage to the Peptide Backbone

Electron and Positron Scattering by the Formamide Molecule

We report calculated elastic integral, differential, and momentum transfer cross sections for electron and positron collisions with the formamide (HCONH₂) molecule, for impact energies up to 10 eV. We have used the Schwinger multichannel method in the static-exchange and static-exchange plus polarization approximation for collisions of electrons and the static plus polarization approximation for collisions of positrons. The Born-closure procedure was applied to account for the long-range potential due to the permanent dipole moment of formamide. We obtained the well-characterized π* shape resonance located at around 2.38 eV, which belongs to the A″ symmetry of the C_s point group. Our integral and differential cross sections for collisions of electrons were compared with the data available in the literature and showed a good qualitative agreement. To the best of our knowledge, no experimental and theoretical data are currently available for positron-formamide collision, so our present cross sections were compared with the cross sections of formic acid, which is also polar and is isoeletronic to formamide.

The Exploitation of Low-Energy Electrons in Cancer Treatment

Given the distinct characteristics of low-energy electrons (LEEs), particularly at energies less than 30 eV, they can be applied to a wide range of therapeutic modalities to improve cancer treatment. LEEs have been shown to efficiently produce complex molecular damage resulting in substantial cellular toxicities. Since LEEs are produced in copious amounts from high-energy radiation beam, including photons, protons and ions; the control of LEE distribution can potentially enhance the therapeutic radio of such beams. LEEs can play a substantial role in the synergistic effect between radiation and chemotherapy, particularly halogenated and platinum-based anticancer drugs. Radiosensitizing entities containing atoms of high atomic number such as gold nanoparticles can be a source of LEE production if high-energy radiation interacts with them. This can provide a high local density of LEEs in a cell and produce cellular toxicity. Auger-electron-emitting radionuclides also create a high number of LEEs in each decay, which can induce lethal damage in a cell. Exploitation of LEEs in cancer treatment, however, faces a few challenges, such as dosimetry of LEEs and selective delivery of radiosensitizing and chemotherapeutic molecules close to cellular targets. This review first discusses the rationale for utilizing LEEs in cancer treatment by explaining their mechanism of action, describes theoretical and experimental studies at the molecular and cellular levels, then discusses strategies for achieving modification of the distribution and effectiveness of LEEs in cancerous tissue and their associated clinical benefit.

Bifurcate localization modes of excess electron in aqueous Ca(2+)amide solution revealed by ab initio molecular dynamics simulation: towards hydrated electron versus hydrated amide anion

In this work, we conduct ab initio molecular dynamics simulations on the localization dynamics of an excess electron (EE) in acetamide/Ca(2+) aqueous solutions with three different interaction modes of Ca(2+) with acetamide: tight contact, solvent-shared state, and separated interaction. The simulated results reveal that an EE could exhibit two different localization behaviors in these acetamide/Ca(2+) aqueous solutions depending on different amideCa(2+) interactions featuring different contact distances. For the tight contact and solvent-shared state of amideCa(2+) solutions, vertically injected diffuse EEs follow different mechanisms with different dynamics, forming a cavity-shaped hydrated electron or a hydrated amide anion, respectively. Meanwhile, for the separated state, only one localization pattern of a vertically injected diffuse EE towards the formation of hydrated amide anion is observed. The hindrance of hydrated Ca(2+) and the attraction of the hydrated amide group originating from its polarity and low energy π* orbital are the main driving forces. Additionally, different EE localization modes have different effects on the interaction between the amide group and Ca(2+) in turn. This work provides an important basis for further understanding the mechanisms and dynamics of localizations/transfers of radiation-produced EEs and associated EE-induced lesions and damage to biological species in real biological environments or other aqueous solutions.