SSRL/LCLS

Abstract Details

Applications of X-ray Microscopy to Bio- and Nano-Materials
Abstract IDBIO-04 
PresenterPiero  Pianetta
Presentation TypePoster
Full Author ListP. Pianetta (1) , J. C. Andrews (1) , S. Brennan (1) , Y. Liu (2) , E. Almeida (3) , M. C. H. van der Meulen (4) , A. Tkachuk (5) , J. Gelb (5) , M. Feser (5) , W. Yun (5)
Affiliations(1) SSRL
(2) IHEP, Beijing
(3) NASA
(4) Cornell University
(5) Xradia, Inc.
CategoryBio/Life Sciences
AbstractAn x-ray microscopy facility for bioimaging, based on an Xradia nano-XCT transmission x-ray microscope (TXM), has been developed at the BL6-2 wiggler beam line at SSRL. The instrument has been designed to operate in the photon energy range from 5-14 keV in absorption contrast and at 8 keV in Zernike phase contrast. Images of the nanostructure of an individual trabecula in a normal mouse bone at a resolution of 40 nm show osteoblasts that are starting to mineralize the trabecula. Complimentary images of trabeculae from osteoporotic bone show that the surfaces are more jagged as well as possible areas of pit formation by osteoclasts which are cells responsible for bone resorption. The TXM image consists of a 3x3 mosaic of individual 1 second exposures each consisting of a 14x14 µm2 field of view. Larger mosaics of up to 20x20 individual exposures can be used to survey large sample areas. Spectroscopic capabilities have also been demonstrated with XANES spectral images taken across the iron edge in an Antarctic meteoritic spallation fragment. The microscope will see further improvement with the addition of higher resolution zone plates and a phase contrast capability at 5 keV. A scanning microprobe capability is integral to the system thus allowing elemental mapping and fluorescence yield XANES to be performed with a spatial resolution in the micron range without introducing any changes to the optical configuration of the instrument.
Footnotes 
Funding AcknowledgementThe transmission x-ray microscopy program is supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering grant number EB004321 and DOE, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.