Iron-specific Signal Separation from within Heavy Metal Stained Biological Samples Using X-Ray Microtomography with Polychromatic Source and Energy-Integrating Detectors.

ABSTRACT: Biological samples are frequently stained with heavy metals in preparation for examining the macro, micro and ultra-structure using X-ray microtomography and electron microscopy. A single X-ray microtomography scan reveals detailed 3D structure based on staining density, yet it lacks both material composition and functional information. Using a commercially available polychromatic X-ray source, energy integrating detectors and a two-scan configuration labelled by their energy- "High" and "Low", we demonstrate how a specific element, here shown with iron, can be detected from a mixture with other heavy metals. With proper selection of scan configuration, achieving strong overlap of source characteristic emission lines and iron K-edge absorption, iron absorption was enhanced enabling K-edge

SUBMITTER: Katchalski T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5953933 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature