Papers by Keyword: X-Ray Microscopes

Abstract: In recent years, research into three-dimensional (3-D) scaffolds for tissue engineering has become an important topic. To avoid biological rejection, there are many biocompatible materials being developed for in vitro cultivation of autologous cells for implantation into the human body. The 3-D structures of scaffolds are not easily observed using traditional optical or electron microscopes, which only allow examination of the surfaces of samples or ultra thin films, and often require complicated pre-treating processes. The high-brilliance synchrotron radiation (SR) hard X-ray is an emerging technique to acquire tomography. This study involves the successful reconstruction of 3-D images and the animation of the structure of a collagen scaffold. The images were obtained using synchrotron radiation hard X-ray images, which eliminates the need for embedding and microtoming. SR hard X-ray imaging is a non-destructive technique, which has demonstrated a high spatial resolution and transmission, enabling the morphology of osteoblasts adhered on the inner surfaces of the collagen scaffolds to be captured. It is a convenient facility to obtain 3-D tomography images for biomaterial studies. This is the first study to observe the 3-D structures of collagen scaffolds and aquire detailed images of osteoblast attachment on the scaffold, by utilization of third-generation SR hard X-ray radiography.

Abstract: Soft X-ray Contact Microscopy (SXCM) of Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes wit typical length 800 μm and diameter 30 μm has been performed using the PALS laser source of wavelength λ = 1.314 μm and pulse duration τ (FWHM) = 400 ps. Pulsed soft X-rays were generated using molybdenum and gold targets with laser intensities I ≥ 1014 W/cm2. Images have been recorded on PMMA photo resists and analyzed using an atomic force microscope operating in contact mode. Cuticle features and several internal organs have been identified in the SXCM images including lateral field, cuticle annuli, pharynx, and hypodermal and neuronal cell nuclei.