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Croughan MK, Paganin DM, Alloo SJ, Ahlers JN, How YY, Harker SA, Morgan KS. Correcting directional dark field x-ray imaging artefacts using position dependent image deblurring and attenuation removal. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17807. [PMID: 39090344 PMCID: PMC11294358 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68659-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, a novel x-ray imaging modality has emerged that reveals unresolved sample microstructure via a "dark-field image", which provides complementary information to conventional "bright-field" images, such as attenuation and phase-contrast modalities. This x-ray dark-field signal is produced by unresolved microstructures scattering the x-ray beam resulting in localised image blur. Dark-field retrieval techniques extract this blur to reconstruct a dark-field image. Unfortunately, the presence of non-dark-field blur such as source-size blur or the detector point-spread-function can affect the dark-field retrieval as they also blur the experimental image. In addition, dark-field images can be degraded by the artefacts induced by large intensity gradients from attenuation and propagation-based phase contrast, particularly around sample edges. By measuring any non-dark-field blurring across the image plane and removing it from experimental images, as well as removing attenuation and propagation-based phase contrast, we show that a directional dark-field image can be retrieved with fewer artefacts and more consistent quantitative measures. We present the details of these corrections and provide "before and after" directional dark-field images of samples imaged at a synchrotron source. This paper utilises single-grid directional dark-field imaging, but these corrections have the potential to be broadly applied to other x-ray imaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle K Croughan
- Monash University, School of Physics and Astronomy, Melbourne, 3800, Australia.
| | - David M Paganin
- Monash University, School of Physics and Astronomy, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
| | - Samantha J Alloo
- Monash University, School of Physics and Astronomy, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
- University of Canterbury, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Christchurch, 8041, New Zealand
| | - Jannis N Ahlers
- Monash University, School of Physics and Astronomy, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
| | - Ying Ying How
- Monash University, School of Physics and Astronomy, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
| | | | - Kaye S Morgan
- Monash University, School of Physics and Astronomy, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
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Smith R, Morgan K, McCarron A, Cmielewski P, Reyne N, Parsons D, Donnelley M. Ultra-fast in vivodirectional dark-field x-ray imaging for visualising magnetic control of particles for airway gene delivery. Phys Med Biol 2024; 69:105025. [PMID: 38640914 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ad40f5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Magnetic nanoparticles can be used as a targeted delivery vehicle for genetic therapies. Understanding how they can be manipulated within the complex environment of live airways is key to their application to cystic fibrosis and other respiratory diseases.Approach.Dark-field x-ray imaging provides sensitivity to scattering information, and allows the presence of structures smaller than the detector pixel size to be detected. In this study, ultra-fast directional dark-field synchrotron x-ray imaging was utlilised to understand how magnetic nanoparticles move within a live, anaesthetised, rat airway under the influence of static and moving magnetic fields.Main results.Magnetic nanoparticles emerging from an indwelling tracheal cannula were detectable during delivery, with dark-field imaging increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of this event by 3.5 times compared to the x-ray transmission signal. Particle movement as well as particle retention was evident. Dynamic magnetic fields could manipulate the magnetic particlesin situ. Significance.This is the first evidence of the effectiveness ofin vivodark-field imaging operating at these spatial and temporal resolutions, used to detect magnetic nanoparticles. These findings provide the basis for further development toward the effective use of magnetic nanoparticles, and advance their potential as an effective delivery vehicle for genetic agents in the airways of live organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan Smith
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
- Women's and Children's Hospital, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kaye Morgan
- Department of Physics, Monash University, Wellington Road, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexandra McCarron
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
- Women's and Children's Hospital, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Patricia Cmielewski
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
- Women's and Children's Hospital, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Nicole Reyne
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
- Women's and Children's Hospital, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
| | - David Parsons
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
- Women's and Children's Hospital, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Martin Donnelley
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia
- Women's and Children's Hospital, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, King William Road, Adelaide, Australia
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Leatham TA, Paganin DM, Morgan KS. X-ray phase and dark-field computed tomography without optical elements. OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 32:4588-4602. [PMID: 38297656 DOI: 10.1364/oe.509604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
X-ray diffusive dark-field imaging, which allows spatially unresolved microstructure to be mapped across a sample, is an increasingly popular tool in an array of settings. Here, we present a new algorithm for phase and dark-field computed tomography based on the x-ray Fokker-Planck equation. Needing only a coherent x-ray source, sample, and detector, our propagation-based algorithm can map the sample density and dark-field/diffusion properties of the sample in 3D. Importantly, incorporating dark-field information in the density reconstruction process enables a higher spatial resolution reconstruction than possible with previous propagation-based approaches. Two sample exposures at each projection angle are sufficient for the successful reconstruction of both the sample density and dark-field Fokker-Planck diffusion coefficients. We anticipate that the proposed algorithm may be of benefit in biomedical imaging and industrial settings.
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Savatović S, Zdora MC, De Marco F, Bikis C, Olbinado M, Rack A, Müller B, Thibault P, Zanette I. Multi-resolution X-ray phase-contrast and dark-field tomography of human cerebellum with near-field speckles. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:142-161. [PMID: 38223169 PMCID: PMC10783905 DOI: 10.1364/boe.502664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we use synchrotron-based multi-modal X-ray tomography to examine human cerebellar tissue in three dimensions at two levels of spatial resolution (2.3 µm and 11.9 µm). We show that speckle-based imaging (SBI) produces results that are comparable to propagation-based imaging (PBI), a well-established phase-sensitive imaging method. The different SBI signals provide complementary information, which improves tissue differentiation. In particular, the dark-field signal aids in distinguishing tissues with similar average electron density but different microstructural variations. The setup's high resolution and the imaging technique's excellent phase sensitivity enabled the identification of different cellular layers and additionally, different cell types within these layers. We also correlated this high-resolution phase-contrast information with measured dark-field signal levels. These findings demonstrate the viability of SBI and the potential benefit of the dark-field modality for virtual histology of brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Savatović
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 – km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
| | - Marie-Christine Zdora
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Fabio De Marco
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 – km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
| | - Christos Bikis
- Psychiatric Hospital in Winterthur, Wieshofstrasse 102, 8408 Winterthur, Switzerland
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167 B/C, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Margie Olbinado
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Rack
- ESRF – The European Synchrotron, CS40220, CEDEX 09, 38043 Grenoble, France
| | - Bert Müller
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167 B/C, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Thibault
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 – km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
| | - Irene Zanette
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 – km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
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Magnin C, Quénot L, Bohic S, Mihai Cenda D, Fernández Martínez M, Lantz B, Faure B, Brun E. Dark-field and directional dark-field on low-coherence x ray sources with random mask modulations: validation with SAXS anisotropy measurements. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:5839-5842. [PMID: 37966732 DOI: 10.1364/ol.501716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Phase-contrast imaging, dark-field, and directional dark-field imaging are recent x ray imaging modalities that have been demonstrated to reveal different information and contrast from those provided by conventional x ray imaging. Access to these new types of images is currently limited because the acquisitions require coherent sources such as synchrotron radiation or complicated optical setups. This Letter demonstrates the possibility of efficiently performing phase-contrast, dark-field, and directional dark-field imaging on a low-coherence laboratory system equipped with a conventional x ray tube, using a simple, fast, and robust single-mask technique.
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Croughan MK, How YY, Pennings A, Morgan KS. Directional dark-field retrieval with single-grid x-ray imaging. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:11578-11597. [PMID: 37155790 DOI: 10.1364/oe.480031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Directional dark-field imaging is an emerging x-ray modality that is sensitive to unresolved anisotropic scattering from sub-pixel sample microstructures. A single-grid imaging setup can be used to capture dark-field images by looking at changes in a grid pattern projected upon the sample. By creating analytical models for the experiment, we have developed a single-grid directional dark-field retrieval algorithm that can extract dark-field parameters such as the dominant scattering direction, and the semi-major and -minor scattering angles. We show that this method is effective even in the presence of high image noise, allowing for low-dose and time-sequence imaging.
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De Marco F, Savatović S, Smith R, Di Trapani V, Margini M, Lautizi G, Thibault P. High-speed processing of X-ray wavefront marking data with the Unified Modulated Pattern Analysis (UMPA) model. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:635-650. [PMID: 36606998 DOI: 10.1364/oe.474794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Wavefront-marking X-ray imaging techniques use e.g., sandpaper or a grating to generate intensity fluctuations, and analyze their distortion by the sample in order to retrieve attenuation, phase-contrast, and dark-field information. Phase contrast yields an improved visibility of soft-tissue specimens, while dark-field reveals small-angle scatter from sub-resolution structures. Both have found many biomedical and engineering applications. The previously developed Unified Modulated Pattern Analysis (UMPA) model extracts these modalities from wavefront-marking data. We here present a new UMPA implementation, capable of rapidly processing large datasets and featuring capabilities to greatly extend the field of view. We also discuss possible artifacts and additional new features.
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