Soft X-ray Fluorescence and Near-Edge Absorption Microscopy for Investigating Metabolic Features in Biological Systems: A Review

Abstract

Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) provides the imaging of biological specimens allowing the parallel collection of localized spectroscopic information by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and/or X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES). The complex metabolic mechanisms which can take place in biological systems can be explored by these techniques by tracing even small quantities of the chemical elements involved in the metabolic pathways. Here, we present a review of the most recent publications in the synchrotrons’ scenario where soft X-ray spectro-microscopy has been employed in life science as well as in environmental research.

2023 atomic spectrometry update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and its special applications

“…Bonanni and Gianoncelli 28 presented a comprehensive review of advancements in the soft X-ray regime for studying metabolic features in biological systems. The paper discussed the combined use of low-energy XRF spectrometry, STXM and XANES techniques and provided valuable information on synchrotron soft X-ray microspectroscopy beamlines suitable for metabolic research.…”

An innovative in situ AFM system for a soft X-ray spectromicroscopy synchrotron beamline

“…14 Soft X-ray microscopy is indeed becoming a more and more widespread analytical tool for investigating complex systems at the micrometric and sub-micrometric levels, especially when combined with X-ray spectroscopy capabilities. 15 Several synchrotrons worldwide have installed STXM beamlines, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] similar to each other but at the same time each with unique capabilities. STXM is a scanning technique where the sample is usually raster-scanned across a micro-or nano-probe by photons delivered by suitable X-ray optics (Fig.…”