Abstracts


Soft X-ray tomography reaches its full potential

Venera Weinhardt

Heidelberg University, Centre for Organismal Studies, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg [DE], venera.weinhardt@cos.uni-heidelberg.de

Author(s):
Venera Weinhardt

Soft X-ray tomography (SXT) is a unique imaging technique that visualizes entire mammalian cells at nanometer resolution with minimal sample preparation. Using soft X-rays (284-543 eV), SXT provides quantitative protein content information in cells' native state without fixation or staining. SXT microscopes have evolved to offer higher resolutions, switchable modes, and alternative acquisition schemes to accommodate diverse biological samples. Factors affecting imaging capabilities include X-ray transmission, depth of field, and field of view. Recent advancements allow imaging of cells up to 18µm thick. A "half-acquisition" strategy has extended SXT capabilities, enabling imaging of whole cells in pathological conditions at twice the previously reported size. This advancement visualizes cellular remodeling and structural changes associated with various pathological states, providing insights into disease mechanisms at the subcellular level. SXT imaging allows researchers to investigate pathology-induced changes in host cells and understand cellular remodeling quantitatively. While access to full-rotation SXT microscopes is limited, laboratory-based systems are expanding accessibility. Ongoing developments in SXT technology at synchrotron and laboratory sources are paving the way for high-throughput 3D imaging of cells in healthy and pathological conditions, offering unprecedented opportunities to study cellular mechanisms in various disease states.

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