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Everett J, Brooks J, Tjendana Tjhin V, Lermyte F, Hands-Portman I, Plascencia-Villa G, Perry G, Sadler PJ, O’Connor PB, Collingwood JF, Telling ND. Label-Free In Situ Chemical Characterization of Amyloid Plaques in Human Brain Tissues. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1469-1483. [PMID: 38501754 PMCID: PMC10995949 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of amyloid plaques and increased brain redox burdens are neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Altered metabolism of essential biometals is another feature of Alzheimer's, with amyloid plaques representing sites of disturbed metal homeostasis. Despite these observations, metal-targeting disease treatments have not been therapeutically effective to date. A better understanding of amyloid plaque composition and the role of the metals associated with them is critical. To establish this knowledge, the ability to resolve chemical variations at nanometer length scales relevant to biology is essential. Here, we present a methodology for the label-free, nanoscale chemical characterization of amyloid plaques within human Alzheimer's disease tissue using synchrotron X-ray spectromicroscopy. Our approach exploits a C-H carbon absorption feature, consistent with the presence of lipids, to visualize amyloid plaques selectively against the tissue background, allowing chemical analysis to be performed without the addition of amyloid dyes that alter the native sample chemistry. Using this approach, we show that amyloid plaques contain elevated levels of calcium, carbonates, and iron compared to the surrounding brain tissue. Chemical analysis of iron within plaques revealed the presence of chemically reduced, low-oxidation-state phases, including ferromagnetic metallic iron. The zero-oxidation state of ferromagnetic iron determines its high chemical reactivity and so may contribute to the redox burden in the Alzheimer's brain and thus drive neurodegeneration. Ferromagnetic metallic iron has no established physiological function in the brain and may represent a target for therapies designed to lower redox burdens in Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, ferromagnetic metallic iron has magnetic properties that are distinct from the iron oxide forms predominant in tissue, which might be exploitable for the in vivo detection of amyloid pathologies using magnetically sensitive imaging. We anticipate that this label-free X-ray imaging approach will provide further insights into the chemical composition of amyloid plaques, facilitating better understanding of how plaques influence the course of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Everett
- School
of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive,Stoke-on-Trent,Staffordshire ST4 7QB, U.K.
- School
of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Road,Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Jake Brooks
- School
of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Road,Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Vindy Tjendana Tjhin
- School
of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Road,Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Frederik Lermyte
- School
of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Road,Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Department
of Chemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ian Hands-Portman
- School
of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Campus,Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Germán Plascencia-Villa
- Department
of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - George Perry
- Department
of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Peter J. Sadler
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Library Road,Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Peter B. O’Connor
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Library Road,Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | | | - Neil D. Telling
- School
of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive,Stoke-on-Trent,Staffordshire ST4 7QB, U.K.
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Sun T, Zhang X, Xu Z, Wang Y, Guo Z, Wang J, Tai R. A bidirectional scanning method for scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2021; 28:512-517. [PMID: 33650564 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577520016112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Scanning mode is a key factor for the comprehensive performance, including imaging efficiency, of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM). Herein is presented a bidirectional scanning method designed for STXM with an S-shaped moving track. In this method, artificially designed ramp waves are generated by a piezo-stage controller to control the two-dimensional scanning of the sample. The sample position information is measured using laser interferometric sensors and sent to a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) board which also acquires the X-ray signals simultaneously from the detector. Since the data recorded by the FPGA contain the real position of each scanned point, the influence of the backlash caused by the back-turning movement on the STXM image can be eliminated. By employing an adapted post-processing program, a re-meshed high-resolution STXM image can be obtained. This S-track bidirectional scanning method in fly-scan mode has been implemented on the STXM endstation at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF), and successfully resolved the ∼30 nm interval between the innermost strips of a Siemens star. This work removes the limitation on bidirectional scanning caused by motor backlash and vibration, and significantly improves the efficiency of STXM experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiao Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangzhi Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Zijian Xu
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi Guo
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Wang
- Canadian Light Source Inc., University of Saskatchewan, 44 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 2V3, Canada
| | - Renzhong Tai
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People's Republic of China
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3
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Biological Applications of Short Wavelength Microscopy Based on Compact, Laser-Produced Gas-Puff Plasma Source. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10238338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decades, remarkable efforts have been made to improve the resolution in photon-based microscopes. The employment of compact sources based on table-top laser-produced soft X-ray (SXR) in the “water window” spectral range (λ = 2.3–4.4 nm) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) plasma allowed to overcome the limitations imposed by large facilities, such as synchrotrons and X-ray free electron lasers (XFEL), because of their high complexity, costs, and limited user access. A laser-plasma double stream gas-puff target source represents a powerful tool for microscopy operating in transmission mode, significantly improving the spatial resolution into the nanometric scale, comparing to the traditional visible light (optical) microscopes. Such an approach allows generating the plasma efficiently, without debris, providing a high flux of EUV and SXR photons. In this review, we present the development and optimization of desktop imaging systems: a EUV and an SXR full field microscope, allowing to achieve a sub-50 nm spatial resolution with short exposure time and an SXR contact microscope, capable to resolve internal structures in a thin layer of sensitive photoresist. Details about the source, as well as imaging results for biological applications, will be presented and discussed.
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Oura M, Ishihara T, Osawa H, Yamane H, Hatsui T, Ishikawa T. Development of a scanning soft X-ray spectromicroscope to investigate local electronic structures on surfaces and interfaces of advanced materials under conditions ranging from low vacuum to helium atmosphere. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2020; 27:664-674. [PMID: 32381766 PMCID: PMC7285684 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577520002258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A scanning soft X-ray spectromicroscope was recently developed based mainly on the photon-in/photon-out measurement scheme for the investigation of local electronic structures on the surfaces and interfaces of advanced materials under conditions ranging from low vacuum to helium atmosphere. The apparatus was installed at the soft X-ray beamline (BL17SU) at SPring-8. The characteristic features of the apparatus are described in detail. The feasibility of this spectromicroscope was demonstrated using soft X-ray undulator radiation. Here, based on these results, element-specific two-dimensional mapping and micro-XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure) measurements are reported, as well as the observation of magnetic domain structures from using a reference sample of permalloy micro-dot patterns fabricated on a silicon substrate, with modest spatial resolution (e.g. ∼500 nm). Then, the X-ray radiation dose for Nafion® near the fluorine K-edge is discussed as a typical example of material that is not radiation hardened against a focused X-ray beam, for near future experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Oura
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ishihara
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Osawa
- JASRI, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Yamane
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Takaki Hatsui
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ishikawa
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
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Witte K, Späth A, Finizio S, Donnelly C, Watts B, Sarafimov B, Odstrcil M, Guizar-Sicairos M, Holler M, Fink RH, Raabe J. From 2D STXM to 3D Imaging: Soft X-ray Laminography of Thin Specimens. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:1305-1314. [PMID: 31951418 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b04782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
X-ray tomography has become an indispensable tool for studying complex 3D interior structures with high spatial resolution. Three-dimensional imaging using soft X-rays offers powerful contrast mechanisms but has seen limited success with tomography due to the restrictions imposed by the much lower energy of the probe beam. The generalized geometry of laminography, characterized by a tilted axis of rotation, provides nm-scale 3D resolution for the investigation of extended (mm range) but thin (μm to nm) samples that are well suited to soft X-ray studies. This work reports on the implementation of soft X-ray laminography (SoXL) at the scanning transmission X-ray spectromicroscope of the PolLux beamline at the Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, which enables 3D imaging of extended specimens from 270 to 1500 eV. Soft X-ray imaging provides contrast mechanisms for both chemical sensitivity to molecular bonds and oxidation states and magnetic dichroism due to the much stronger attenuation of X-rays in this energy range. The presented examples of applications range from functionalized nanomaterials to biological photonic crystals and sophisticated nanoscaled magnetic domain patterns, thus illustrating the wide fields of research that can benefit from SoXL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Witte
- Swiss Light Source , Paul Scherrer Institut , Forschungsstrasse 111 , 5232 Villigen , Switzerland
| | - Andreas Späth
- Department Chemie und Pharmazie, Physikalische Chemie , Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Egerlandstrasse 3 , 91058 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Simone Finizio
- Swiss Light Source , Paul Scherrer Institut , Forschungsstrasse 111 , 5232 Villigen , Switzerland
| | - Claire Donnelly
- Cavendish Laboratory , University of Cambridge , JJ Thomson Avenue , Cambridge , CB3 0HE , United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Watts
- Swiss Light Source , Paul Scherrer Institut , Forschungsstrasse 111 , 5232 Villigen , Switzerland
| | - Blagoj Sarafimov
- Swiss Light Source , Paul Scherrer Institut , Forschungsstrasse 111 , 5232 Villigen , Switzerland
| | - Michal Odstrcil
- Swiss Light Source , Paul Scherrer Institut , Forschungsstrasse 111 , 5232 Villigen , Switzerland
| | - Manuel Guizar-Sicairos
- Swiss Light Source , Paul Scherrer Institut , Forschungsstrasse 111 , 5232 Villigen , Switzerland
| | - Mirko Holler
- Swiss Light Source , Paul Scherrer Institut , Forschungsstrasse 111 , 5232 Villigen , Switzerland
| | - Rainer H Fink
- Department Chemie und Pharmazie, Physikalische Chemie , Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Egerlandstrasse 3 , 91058 Erlangen , Germany
| | - Jörg Raabe
- Swiss Light Source , Paul Scherrer Institut , Forschungsstrasse 111 , 5232 Villigen , Switzerland
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Abstract
Airborne particles are very dynamic and highly reactive components of the Earth's atmosphere. Their high surface area and water content provide a unique reaction environment for multiphase chemistry that continually modifies particle composition and properties that consequently impact air quality as well as concentrations of gas-phase species. By absorbing and scattering solar and terrestrial radiation, particles directly influence the planet's radiative balance. Their indirect effects include modifying the nucleation, lifetime, and physical properties of clouds. Due to the sensitivity of the atmospheric environment to all these variables, fundamental studies of chemical transformations of atmospheric particles, their sources, continuously evolving composition, and physical properties are of highest research priority. Accurate descriptions of particles and their effects in the atmosphere require comprehensive information not only on the particle-type populations and their size distributions and concentrations, but also on the diversity and the spatial heterogeneity of chemical components within individual particles. Developments and applications of modern chemical imaging approaches for off-line characterization of atmospheric particles have been at the forefront of modern experimental studies and have resulted in a transformative impact in atmospheric chemistry and physics. This Account presents a synopsis of recent advances in chemical imaging of atmospheric particles collected on substrates during field and laboratory experiments. The unique advantage of chemical imaging methods is that they simultaneously provide two analytical measurements: imaging of particles to assess variability in their individual sizes and morphology, as well as particle-specific speciation of their composition and spatial heterogeneity of different chemical components within individual particles. We also highlight analytical chemistry approaches that enable chemical imaging of particles with different levels of elemental and molecular specificity, including applications of multimodal methodologies where the same or similar groups of particles are probed by two or more complementary techniques. These approaches provide unique experimental insights on the nature and sources of particles, understanding their physical properties, atmospheric reactivity, and transformations. Chemical imaging data provide unique experimental input for atmospheric models that simulate aging and changes in particle-type populations, internal composition, and their associated optical and cloud forming properties. We highlight applications of chemical imaging in selected recent studies, discuss their existing limitations, and forecast future research directions for this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Laskin
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ryan C. Moffet
- Meteorology and Air Quality Measurements, Sonoma Technology, Inc., Petaluma, California 94954, United States
| | - Mary K. Gilles
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Perera SD, Shokatian S, Wang J, Urquhart SG. Temperature Dependence in the NEXAFS Spectra of n-Alkanes. J Phys Chem A 2018; 122:9512-9517. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.8b10713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sahan D. Perera
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Treaty Six Territory, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9, Canada
| | - Sadegh Shokatian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Treaty Six Territory, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9, Canada
| | - Jian Wang
- Canadian Light Source, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0X4, Canada
| | - Stephen G. Urquhart
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Treaty Six Territory, Saskatchewan S7N 5C9, Canada
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