High-resolution element mapping inside biological samples using fluorescence microtomography

Abstract

Sample preparation for element analysis of many biological tissues is difficult to achieve and prone to introduce contamination. Using x-ray fluorescence element microtomography (XFEMT) the element distribution on a virtual section across the sample can be determined with a resolution in the micrometer range. Fluorescence microtomograms of two plant samples are shown, demonstrating the possibility to map physiologically relevant ions, trace elements, and heavy metal pollutants at the cellular level. Attenuation effects inside the plant are corrected by a self-consistent tomographic reconstruction technique.

Nondestructive rare earth element imaging of fish teeth from deep-sea sediments

“…[1,2] SR-XFCT has been widely applied in the research field of phytology, materialology, geology, and particularly in biomedical studies [3][4][5][6][7][8] because of its higher sensitivity and lower detection limit superiorities. [7,9] Over the past two decades, many synchrotron radiation facilities have been equipped with XFCT imaging systems, such as APS, ESRF, SPring-8. [10][11][12] The common use of X-ray excitation energy (up to approximately 20 keV) has necessitated the use of L-shell fluorescence for high-Z elements (Z > 42).…”

“…The objective of SR‐XFCT is quantitative analysis of the distribution of nonradioactive elements; it provides an interesting cross section of a sample using nondestructive methods . SR‐XFCT has been widely applied in the research field of phytology, materialology, geology, and particularly in biomedical studies because of its higher sensitivity and lower detection limit superiorities . Over the past two decades, many synchrotron radiation facilities have been equipped with XFCT imaging systems, such as APS, ESRF, SPring‐8 …”

Differences in X‐ray absorption due to cadmium treatment in Saponaria officinalis leaves

“…Moreover, with X-rays it is possible to perform measurements of trace elements (as Ca,Fe,Ni,Cd), and accumulation site mapping in a variety of biological samples by different techniques such as X-ray absorption, phase contrast imaging (Cloetens et al, 2001), X-ray fluorescence microprobes (Sutton et al, 1995), and fluorescence microtomography (Schroer et al, 2002). The detection limits of the element of interest can provide semi-quantitative estimates of concentration down to a few pg/cm 2 (Penner-Hahn and Peariso, 2000) with submicron spatial resolution in relatively large (mm 2 ) fields of view.…”

PtyNAMi: Ptychographic Nano-Analytical Microscope at PETRA III: interferometrically tracking positions for 3D x-ray scanning microscopy using a ball-lens retroreflector

“…In combination with tomography, scanning microscopy yields local quantitative measurements of these physical and chemical quantities in three dimensions inside a sample without destructive preparation or inside a special environment. [5][6][7][8][9] In x-ray scanning microscopy, the sample is raster scanned through a confined beam, measuring at each position of the scan one or more of the above-mentioned x-ray analytical techniques. The spatial resolution in this setting is limited by the lateral size of the x-ray beam.…”