Robin Vanhoeijen

Ionizing cosmic radiation is considered one of the main health risks for astronauts on long-term space missions. More specifically, the risk of developing cancer in astronauts is significantly increased due to prolonged exposure to continuous low dose rate, high-energy particles in both galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and solar particle events (SPEs). Among these, GCRs contribute the most to the cumulative radiation dose and are especially challenging to shield against due to its high penetration power. Because of this, novel shielding materials have to be developed in order to make long-term manned deep space missions possible.

Water, being rich in hydrogen atoms, serves as a promising alternative to the conventionally used materials, as hydrogen atoms are effective at slowing down the highly energetic radiation particles. However, the use of liquid water is impractical in spacecraft environments densely packed with electronic systems. Hydrogels—three-dimensional crosslinked polymer networks capable of retaining large amounts of water—offer a compelling alternative. They are lightweight, chemically tuneable, and can be engineered to serve multiple functions, making them well-suited for space applications.

In our research, we utilize radiobiological assays—including micronucleus formation and DNA repair kinetics—on biological cell/tissue models as comparative metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of various hydrogel-based shielding materials. Our goal is to develop innovative hydrogel formulations that increase the protective capacity of conventional shielding materials, contributing to safer long-term manned spaceflight.
 

• Lab address: Radiobiology Lab, Campus UZ Ghent, Building 6B3, entrance 46, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent
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