Biodevices for the detection of space radiation effect on photosynthetic organisms

It is reported the development of: 1) a biosensor for the detection of ionizing radiation (biodosimeter) utilizing the advantageous properties of the Photosystem II (PSII) complex and its response to ionizing radiation; 2) a biodevice determining the effects of space stress on the oxygen-evolving activity of photosyntheic microorganisms. The biodevice is an apparatus that can reveal a biochemical variable using a biological component interfaced with an electronic transducer. It gives an electrical signal that is easy to process, depending on the analysed variable. PSII particles and cells of photosynthetic oxygenic organisms compose the biological part; a fluorescence signal, collelated to photosynthetic activity is the trasducer system. Biodevices, can give information on the photosynthetic organisms able to survive to space stress, focalizing the choice of organisms useful for log-term missions. They were calibrated with several radiation beams, to understand separately the effect of radiation of different linear energy transfer (LET) on the biochemical activity.