Characterization of a CdTe single-photon-counting detector for biomedical imaging applications

PURPOSE

The Eiger 2X CdTe 1 M-W (Dectris ltd, Baden, Switzerland) single photon counting detector was characterized for imaging applications at the biomedical beamline ID17 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility.

METHODS

Linearity, Modulation Transfer Function, Noise Power Spectrum and Detective Quantum Efficiency were measured as a function of photon energy and flux in the range 26-80 keV.

RESULTS

The linearity was confirmed in the flux range specified by Dectris and a detection efficiency higher than 60 % was measured for energies up to 80 keV. The spatial resolution was inferred from the Modulation Transfer Function and was found to be compatible with the pixel size of the detector (75 μm), except at energies just above the K-edge of Cd and Te where it reached 150 μm. The study of the Noise Power Spectrum showed a time-dependency in the response of the sensor, which is mitigated at low photon fluxes (<2⨯10⁸ ph mm^-2 s^-1).

CONCLUSIONS

This work was the first characterization of the Eiger 2X CdTe 1 M-W for imaging applications with monochromatic synchrotron radiation. The spatial resolution and the quantum efficiency are compatible with low-dose imaging applications.

Reduced volume of diabetic pancreatic islets in rodents detected by synchrotron X-ray phase-contrast microtomography and deep learning network

The pancreatic islet is a highly structured micro-organ that produces insulin in response to rising blood glucose. Here we develop a label-free and automatic imaging approach to visualize the islets in situ in diabetic rodents by the synchrotron radiation X-ray phase-contrast microtomography (SRμCT) at the ID17 station of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The large-size images (3.2 mm × 15.97 mm) were acquired in the pancreas in STZ-treated mice and diabetic GK rats. Each pancreas was dissected by 3000 reconstructed images. The image datasets were further analysed by a self-developed deep learning method, AA-Net. All islets in the pancreas were segmented and visualized by the three-dimension (3D) reconstruction. After quantifying the volumes of the islets, we found that the number of larger islets (=>1500 μm³) was reduced by 2-fold (wt 1004 ± 94 vs GK 419 ± 122, P < 0.001) in chronically developed diabetic GK rat, while in STZ-treated diabetic mouse the large islets were decreased by half (189 ± 33 vs 90 ± 29, P < 0.001) compared to the untreated mice. Our study provides a label-free tool for detecting and quantifying pancreatic islets in situ. It implies the possibility of monitoring the state of pancreatic islets in vivo diabetes without labelling.

In situ visualization of aortic dissection propagation in notched rabbit aorta using synchrotron X-ray tomography

Aortic dissection is a complex, intramural, and dynamic condition involving multiple mechanisms, hence, difficult to observe. In the present study, a controlled in vitro aortic dissection was performed using tension-inflation tests on notched rabbit aortic segments. The mechanical test was combined with conventional (cCT) and synchrotron (sCT) computed tomography for in situ imaging of the macro- and micro-structural morphological changes of the aortic wall during dissection. We demonstrate that the morphology of the notch and the aorta can be quantified in situ at different steps of the aortic dissection, and that the notch geometry correlates with the critical pressure. The phenomena prior to propagation of the notch are also described, for instance the presence of a bulge at the tip of the notch is identified, deforming the remaining wall. Finally, our method allows us to visualize for the first time the propagation of an aortic dissection in real-time with a resolution that has never previously been reached. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: With the present study, we investigated the factors leading to the propagation of aortic dissection by reproducing this mechanical process in notched rabbit aortas. Synchrotron CT provided the first visualisation in real-time of an aortic dissection propagation with a resolution that has never previously been reached. The morphology of the intimal tear and aorta was quantified at different steps of the aortic dissection, demonstrating that the early notch geometry correlates with the critical pressure. This quantification is crucial for the development of better criteria identifying patients at risk. Phenomena prior to tear propagation were also described, such as the presence of a bulge at the tip of the notch, deforming the remaining wall.

Lesion extension and neuronal loss following spinal cord injury using X-ray phase-contrast tomography in mice

Following a spinal cord injury (SCI) the degree of functional (motor, autonomous or sensory) correlates with the severity of nervous tissue disruption. An imaging technique able to capture non-invasively and simultaneously the complex mechanisms of neuronal loss, vascular damages and perilesional tissue reorganization is currently lacking in experimental SCI studies. Synchrotron X-ray phase-contrast Tomography (SXPCT) has emerged as a non-destructive 3D neuroimaging technique with high contrast and spatial resolution. In this framework, we developed a multimodal approach combining SXPCT, histology and correlative methods to study neuro-vascular architecture in normal and C4-contused mouse spinal cords (C57BL/6J mice, age 2-3 months). The evolution of SCI lesion was imaged at the cell resolution level during the acute (30 minutes) and subacute (7 days) phases. Spared motor neurons were segmented and quantified in different volumes localized at and away from the epicenter. SXPCT was able to capture neuronal loss and blood-brain barrier breakdown following SCI. 3D quantification based on SXPCT acquisitions showed no additional motor neuron loss between 30 minutes and 7 days post-SCI. In addition, the analysis of hemorrhagic (at 30 minutes) and lesion (at 7 days) volumes revealed a high similarity in size, suggesting no extension of tissue degeneration between early and later time points. Moreover, glial scar borders were unevenly distributed, with rostral edges being the most extended. In conclusion, SXPCT capability to image at high-resolution cellular changes in 3D enables understanding the relationship between hemorrhagic events and nervous structure damages in SCI.

X-ray multiscale 3D neuroimaging to quantify cellular aging and neurodegeneration postmortem in a model of Alzheimer’s disease

Purpose

Modern neuroimaging lacks the tools necessary for whole-brain, anatomically dense neuronal damage screening. An ideal approach would include unbiased histopathologic identification of aging and neurodegenerative disease.

Methods

We report the postmortem application of multiscale X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (X-PCI-CT) for the label-free and dissection-free organ-level to intracellular-level 3D visualization of distinct single neurons and glia. In deep neuronal populations in the brain of aged wild-type and of 3xTgAD mice (a triply-transgenic model of Alzheimer’s disease), we quantified intracellular hyperdensity, a manifestation of aging or neurodegeneration.

Results

In 3xTgAD mice, the observed hyperdensity was identified as amyloid-β and hyper-phosphorylated tau protein deposits with calcium and iron involvement, by correlating the X-PCI-CT data to immunohistochemistry, X-ray fluorescence microscopy, high-field MRI, and TEM. As a proof-of-concept, X-PCI-CT was used to analyze hippocampal and cortical brain regions of 3xTgAD mice treated with LY379268, selective agonist of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu2/3 receptors). Chronic pharmacologic activation of mGlu2/3 receptors significantly reduced the hyperdensity particle load in the ventral cortical regions of 3xTgAD mice, suggesting a neuroprotective effect with locoregional efficacy.

Conclusions

This multiscale micro-to-nano 3D imaging method based on X-PCI-CT enabled identification and quantification of cellular and sub-cellular aging and neurodegeneration in deep neuronal and glial cell populations in a transgenic model of Alzheimer’s disease. This approach quantified the localized and intracellular neuroprotective effects of pharmacological activation of mGlu2/3 receptors.

Imaging Regional Lung Structure and Function in Small Animals Using Synchrotron Radiation Phase-Contrast and K-Edge Subtraction Computed Tomography

Synchrotron radiation offers unique properties of coherence, utilized in phase-contrast imaging, and high flux as well as a wide energy spectrum which allow the selection of very narrow energy bands of radiation, used in K-edge subtraction imaging (KES) imaging. These properties extend X-ray computed tomography (CT) capabilities to quantitatively assess lung morphology, and to map regional lung ventilation, perfusion, inflammation, aerosol particle distribution and biomechanical properties, with microscopic spatial resolution. Four-dimensional imaging, allows the investigation of the dynamics of regional lung functional parameters simultaneously with structural deformation of the lung as a function of time. These techniques have proven to be very useful for revealing the regional differences in both lung structure and function which is crucial for better understanding of disease mechanisms as well as for evaluating treatment in small animal models of lung diseases. Here, synchrotron radiation imaging methods are described and examples of their application to the study of disease mechanisms in preclinical animal models are presented.

Non-conventional Ultra-High Dose Rate (FLASH) Microbeam Radiotherapy Provides Superior Normal Tissue Sparing in Rat Lung Compared to Non-conventional Ultra-High Dose Rate (FLASH) Radiotherapy

Conventional radiotherapy is a widely used non-invasive form of treatment for many types of cancer. However, due to a low threshold in the lung for radiation-induced normal tissue damage, it is of less utility in treating lung cancer. For this reason, surgery is the preferred treatment for lung cancer, which has the detriment of being highly invasive. Non-conventional ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) radiotherapy is currently of great interest in the radiotherapy community due to demonstrations of reduced normal tissue toxicity in lung and other anatomy. This study investigates the effects of FLASH microbeam radiotherapy, which in addition to ultra-high dose rate incorporates a spatial segmentation of the radiation field, on the normal lung tissue of rats. With a focus on fibrotic damage, this work demonstrates that FLASH microbeam radiotherapy provides an order of magnitude increase in normal tissue radio-resistance compared to FLASH radiotherapy. This result suggests FLASH microbeam radiotherapy holds promise for much improved non-invasive control of lung cancer.

A Multi-Scale and Multi-Technique Approach for the Characterization of the Effects of Spatially Fractionated X-ray Radiation Therapies in a Preclinical Model

The purpose of this study is to use a multi-technique approach to detect the effects of spatially fractionated X-ray Microbeam (MRT) and Minibeam Radiation Therapy (MB) and to compare them to seamless Broad Beam (BB) irradiation. Healthy- and Glioblastoma (GBM)-bearing male Fischer rats were irradiated in-vivo on the right brain hemisphere with MRT, MB and BB delivering three different doses for each irradiation geometry. Brains were analyzed post mortem by multi-scale X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging-Computed Tomography (XPCI-CT), histology, immunohistochemistry, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Small- and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS). XPCI-CT discriminates with high sensitivity the effects of MRT, MB and BB irradiations on both healthy and GBM-bearing brains producing a first-time 3D visualization and morphological analysis of the radio-induced lesions, MRT and MB induced tissue ablations, the presence of hyperdense deposits within specific areas of the brain and tumor evolution or regression with respect to the evaluation made few days post-irradiation with an in-vivo magnetic resonance imaging session. Histology, immunohistochemistry, SAXS/WAXS and XRF allowed identification and classification of these deposits as hydroxyapatite crystals with the coexistence of Ca, P and Fe mineralization, and the multi-technique approach enabled the realization, for the first time, of the map of the differential radiosensitivity of the different brain areas treated with MRT and MB. 3D XPCI-CT datasets enabled also the quantification of tumor volumes and Ca/Fe deposits and their full-organ visualization. The multi-scale and multi-technique approach enabled a detailed visualization and classification in 3D of the radio-induced effects on brain tissues bringing new essential information towards the clinical implementation of the MRT and MB radiation therapy techniques.

Multiscale X-ray phase contrast imaging of human cartilage for investigating osteoarthritis formation

Background

The evolution of cartilage degeneration is still not fully understood, partly due to its thinness, low radio-opacity and therefore lack of adequately resolving imaging techniques. X-ray phase-contrast imaging (X-PCI) offers increased sensitivity with respect to standard radiography and CT allowing an enhanced visibility of adjoining, low density structures with an almost histological image resolution. This study examined the feasibility of X-PCI for high-resolution (sub-) micrometer analysis of different stages in tissue degeneration of human cartilage samples and compare it to histology and transmission electron microscopy.

Methods

Ten 10%-formalin preserved healthy and moderately degenerated osteochondral samples, post-mortem extracted from human knee joints, were examined using four different X-PCI tomographic set-ups using synchrotron radiation the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France) and the Swiss Light Source (Switzerland). Volumetric datasets were acquired with voxel sizes between 0.7 × 0.7 × 0.7 and 0.1 × 0.1 × 0.1 µm³. Data were reconstructed by a filtered back-projection algorithm, post-processed by ImageJ, the WEKA machine learning pixel classification tool and VGStudio max. For correlation, osteochondral samples were processed for histology and transmission electron microscopy.

Results

X-PCI provides a three-dimensional visualization of healthy and moderately degenerated cartilage samples down to a (sub-)cellular level with good correlation to histologic and transmission electron microscopy images. X-PCI is able to resolve the three layers and the architectural organization of cartilage including changes in chondrocyte cell morphology, chondrocyte subgroup distribution and (re-)organization as well as its subtle matrix structures.

Conclusions

X-PCI captures comprehensive cartilage tissue transformation in its environment and might serve as a tissue-preserving, staining-free and volumetric virtual histology tool for examining and chronicling cartilage behavior in basic research/laboratory experiments of cartilage disease evolution.

3D Spatial Distribution of Nanoparticles in Mice Brain Metastases by X-ray Phase-Contrast Tomography

Characterizing nanoparticles (NPs) distribution in multiple and complex metastases is of fundamental relevance for the development of radiological protocols based on NPs administration. In the literature, there have been advances in monitoring NPs in tissues. However, the lack of 3D information is still an issue. X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) is a 3D label-free, non-invasive and multi-scale approach allowing imaging anatomical details with high spatial and contrast resolutions. Here an XPCT qualitative study on NPs distribution in a mouse brain model of melanoma metastases injected with gadolinium-based NPs for theranostics is presented. For the first time, XPCT images show the NPs uptake at micrometer resolution over the full brain. Our results revealed a heterogeneous distribution of the NPs inside the melanoma metastases, bridging the gap in spatial resolution between magnetic resonance imaging and histology. Our findings demonstrated that XPCT is a reliable technique for NPs detection and can be considered as an emerging method for the study of NPs distribution in organs.

Imaging atelectrauma in Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury using 4D X-ray microscopy

Mechanical ventilation can damage the lungs, a condition called Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI). However, the mechanisms leading to VILI at the microscopic scale remain poorly understood. Here we investigated the within-tidal dynamics of cyclic recruitment/derecruitment (R/D) using synchrotron radiation phase-contrast imaging (PCI), and the relation between R/D and cell infiltration, in a model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in 6 anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated New-Zealand White rabbits. Dynamic PCI was performed at 22.6 µm voxel size, under protective mechanical ventilation [tidal volume: 6 ml/kg; positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP): 5 cmH₂O]. Videos and quantitative maps of within-tidal R/D showed that injury propagated outwards from non-aerated regions towards adjacent regions where cyclic R/D was present. R/D of peripheral airspaces was both pressure and time-dependent, occurring throughout the respiratory cycle with significant scatter of opening/closing pressures. There was a significant association between R/D and regional lung cellular infiltration (p = 0.04) suggesting that tidal R/D of the lung parenchyma may contribute to regional lung inflammation or capillary-alveolar barrier dysfunction and to the progression of lung injury. PEEP may not fully mitigate this phenomenon even at high levels. Ventilation strategies utilizing the time-dependence of R/D may be helpful in reducing R/D and associated injury.

Multiscale pink-beam microCT imaging at the ESRF-ID17 biomedical beamline

Recent trends in hard X-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT) aim at increasing both spatial and temporal resolutions. These challenges require intense photon beams. Filtered synchrotron radiation beams, also referred to as `pink beams', which are emitted by wigglers or bending magnets, meet this need, owing to their broad energy range. In this work, the new microCT station installed at the biomedical beamline ID17 of the European Synchrotron is described and an overview of the preliminary results obtained for different biomedical-imaging applications is given. This new instrument expands the capabilities of the beamline towards sub-micrometre voxel size scale and simultaneous multi-resolution imaging. The current setup allows the acquisition of tomographic datasets more than one order of magnitude faster than with a monochromatic beam configuration.

X-ray phase contrast tomography for the investigation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons. Pre-clinical studies drive the development of animal models that well mimic ALS disorder and enable both the dissection of disease processes and an early assessment of therapy efficacy. A comprehensive knowledge of neuronal and vascular lesions in the brain and spinal cord is an essential factor to understand the development of the disease. Spatial resolution and bidimensional imaging are important drawbacks limiting current neuroimaging tools, while neuropathology relies on protocols that may alter tissue chemistry and structure. In contrast, recent ex vivo studies in mice demonstrated that X-ray phase-contrast tomography enables study of the 3D distribution of both vasculature and neuronal networks, without sample sectioning or use of staining. Here we present our findings on ex vivo SOD1G93A ALS mice spinal cord at a micrometric scale. An unprecedented direct quantification of neuro-vascular alterations at different stages of the disease is shown.

Simplified retrieval method for Edge Illumination X-ray phase contrast imaging allowing multi-modal imaging with fewer input frames

We present data from an implementation of Edge Illumination (EI) that uses a detector aperture designed for increasing dynamic range, suitable for clinically relevant X-ray energies and demonstrated here using synchrotron radiation. By utilising a sufficiently large crosstalk between pixels, this implementation enables single-scan imaging for phase and absorption, and double-scan for phase, absorption and dark field imaging. The presence of the detector mask enables a direct comparison between conventional EI and beam tracking (BT), which we conduct through Monte Carlo and analytical modelling in the case of a single-scan being used for the retrieval of all three contrasts. In the present case, where the X-ray beam width is comparable to the pixel size, we provide an analysis on best-positioning of the beam on the detector for accurate signal retrieval. Further, we demonstrate an application of this method by distinguishing different concentrations of microbubbles via their dark field signals at high energy using an EI system.

High resolution 3D visualization of the spinal cord in a post-mortem murine model

A crucial issue in the development of therapies to treat pathologies of the central nervous system is represented by the availability of non-invasive methods to study the three-dimensional morphology of spinal cord, with a resolution able to characterize its complex vascular and neuronal organization. X-ray phase contrast micro-tomography enables a high-quality, 3D visualization of both the vascular and neuronal network simultaneously without the need of contrast agents, destructive sample preparations or sectioning. Until now, high resolution investigations of the post-mortem spinal cord in murine models have mostly been performed in spinal cords removed from the spinal canal. We present here post-mortem phase contrast micro-tomography images reconstructed using advanced computational tools to obtain high-resolution and high-contrast 3D images of the fixed spinal cord without removing the bones and preserving the richness of micro-details available when measuring exposed spinal cords. We believe that it represents a significant step toward the in-vivo application.

Single-shot K-edge subtraction x-ray discrete computed tomography with a polychromatic source and the Pixie-III detector

K-edge subtraction (KES) imaging is a technique able to map a specific element such as e.g. a contrast agent within the tissues, by exploiting the sharp rise of its absorption coefficient at the K-edge energy. Whereas mainly explored at synchrotron radiation sources, the energy discrimination properties of modern x-ray photon counting detectors (XPCDs) pave the way for an implementation of single-shot KES imaging with conventional polychromatic sources. In this work we present an x-ray CT imaging system based on the innovative Pixie-III detector and discrete reconstruction. The results reported here show that a reliable automatic localization of Barium (above a certain concentration) is possible with a few dozens of tomographic projections for a volume having an axial slice of 512 [Formula: see text] 512 pixels. The final application is a routine high-fidelity 3D mapping of a specific element ready for further morphological quantification by means of x-ray CT with potential promising applications in vivo.

Synthesis and activation of an iron oxide immobilized drug-mimicking reporter under conventional and pulsed X-ray irradiation conditions

An efficient nano-sized delivery system is presented here allowing the immobilized, picolinium-tethered organic ligand to be released by X-ray irradiation. A marked difference was observed in the fragmentation efficiency by using conventional Cs-137 vs. pulsed sources.

The nano-sized delivery system allowed releasing complex organic ligands by X-ray irradiation. Marked difference was observed in the release efficiency by using conventional Cs-137 vs. pulsed sources.

The Effect of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure on Lung Micromechanics Assessed by Synchrotron Radiation Computed Tomography in an Animal Model of ARDS

Modern ventilatory strategies are based on the assumption that lung terminal airspaces act as isotropic balloons that progressively accommodate gas. Phase contrast synchrotron radiation computed tomography (PCSRCT) has recently challenged this concept, showing that in healthy lungs, deflation mechanisms are based on the sequential de-recruitment of airspaces. Using PCSRCT scans in an animal model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), this study examined whether the numerosity (ASnum) and dimension (ASdim) of lung airspaces change during a deflation maneuver at decreasing levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) at 12, 9, 6, 3, and 0 cmH₂O. Deflation was associated with significant reduction of ASdim both in the whole lung section (passing from from 13.1 ± 2.0 at PEEP 12 to 7.6 ± 4.2 voxels at PEEP 0) and in single concentric regions of interest (ROIs). However, the regression between applied PEEP and ASnum was significant in the whole slice (ranging from 188 ± 52 at PEEP 12 to 146.4 ± 96.7 at PEEP 0) but not in the single ROIs. This mechanism of deflation in which reduction of ASdim is predominant, differs from the one observed in healthy conditions, suggesting that the peculiar alveolar micromechanics of ARDS might play a role in the deflation process.

Regional Behavior of Airspaces During Positive Pressure Reduction Assessed by Synchrotron Radiation Computed Tomography

INTRODUCTION

The mechanisms of lung inflation and deflation are only partially known. Ventilatory strategies to support lung function rely upon the idea that lung alveoli are isotropic balloons that progressively inflate or deflate and that lung pressure/volume curves derive only by the interplay of critical opening pressures, critical closing pressures, lung history, and position of alveoli inside the lung. This notion has been recently challenged by subpleural microscopy, magnetic resonance, and computed tomography (CT). Phase-contrast synchrotron radiation CT (PC-SRCT) can yield in vivo images at resolutions higher than conventional CT.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess the numerosity (ASden) and the extension of the surface of airspaces (ASext) in healthy conditions at different volumes, during stepwise lung deflation, in concentric regions of the lung.

METHODS

The study was conducted in seven anesthetized New Zealand rabbits. They underwent PC-SRCT scans (resolution of 47.7 μm) of the lung at five decreasing positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels of 12, 9, 6, 3, and 0 cmH2O during end-expiratory holds. Three concentric regions of interest (ROIs) of the lung were studied: subpleural, mantellar, and core. The images were enhanced by phase contrast algorithms. ASden and ASext were computed by using the Image Processing Toolbox for MatLab. Statistical tests were used to assess any significant difference determined by PEEP or ROI on ASden and ASext.

RESULTS

When reducing PEEP, in each ROI the ASden significantly decreased. Conversely, ASext variation was not significant except for the core ROI. In the latter, the angular coefficient of the regression line was significantly low.

CONCLUSION

The main mechanism behind the decrease in lung volume at PEEP reduction is derecruitment. In our study involving lung regions laying on isogravitational planes and thus equally influenced by gravitational forces, airspace numerosity and extension of surface depend on the local mechanical properties of the lung.

Micro-imaging of Brain Cancer Radiation Therapy Using Phase-contrast Computed Tomography

PURPOSE

Experimental neuroimaging provides a wide range of methods for the visualization of brain anatomic morphology down to subcellular detail. Still, each technique-specific detection mechanism presents compromises among the achievable field-of-view size, spatial resolution, and nervous tissue sensitivity, leading to partial sample coverage, unresolved morphologic structures, or sparse labeling of neuronal populations and often also to obligatory sample dissection or other sample invasive manipulations. X-ray phase-contrast imaging computed tomography (PCI-CT) is an experimental imaging method that simultaneously provides micrometric spatial resolution, high soft-tissue sensitivity, and ex vivo full organ rodent brain coverage without any need for sample dissection, staining or labeling, or contrast agent injection. In the present study, we explored the benefits and limitations of PCI-CT use for in vitro imaging of normal and cancerous brain neuromorphology after in vivo treatment with synchrotron-generated x-ray microbeam radiation therapy (MRT), a spatially fractionated experimental high-dose radiosurgery. The goals were visualization of the MRT effects on nervous tissue and a qualitative comparison of the results to the histologic and high-field magnetic resonance imaging findings.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

MRT was administered in vivo to the brain of both healthy and cancer-bearing rats. At 45 days after treatment, the brain was dissected out and imaged ex vivo using propagation-based PCI-CT.

RESULTS

PCI-CT visualizes the brain anatomy and microvasculature in 3 dimensions and distinguishes cancerous tissue morphology, necrosis, and intratumor accumulation of iron and calcium deposits. Moreover, PCI-CT detects the effects of MRT throughout the treatment target areas (eg, the formation of micrometer-thick radiation-induced tissue ablation). The observed neurostructures were confirmed by histologic and immunohistochemistry examination and related to the micro-magnetic resonance imaging data.

CONCLUSIONS

PCI-CT enabled a unique 3D neuroimaging approach for ex vivo studies on small animal models in that it concurrently delivers high-resolution insight of local brain tissue morphology in both normal and cancerous micro-milieu, localizes radiosurgical damage, and highlights the deep microvasculature. This method could assist experimental small animal neurology studies in the postmortem evaluation of neuropathology or treatment effects.

In-situ visualization of sound-induced otolith motion using hard X-ray phase contrast imaging

Regarding the basics of ear structure-function relationships in fish, the actual motion of the solid otolith relative to the underlying sensory epithelium has rarely been investigated. Otolith motion has been characterized based on a few experimental studies and on approaches using mathematical modeling, which have yielded partially conflicting results. Those studies either predicted a simple back-and-forth motion of the otolith or a shape-dependent, more complex motion. Our study was designed to develop and test a new set-up to generate experimental data on fish otolith motion in-situ. Investigating the basic parameters of otolith motion requires an approach with high spatial and temporal resolution. We therefore used hard X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI). We compared two anatomically well-studied cichlid species, Steatocranus tinanti and Etroplus maculatus, which, among other features, differ in the 3D shape of their otoliths. In a water-filled tank, we presented a pure tone of 200 Hz to 1) isolated otoliths embedded in agarose serving as a simple model or 2) to a fish (otoliths in-situ). Our new set-up successfully visualized the motion of otoliths in-situ and therefore paves the way for future studies evaluating the principles of otolith motion.

Synchrotron-generated microbeams induce hippocampal transections in rats

Synchrotron-generated microplanar beams (microbeams) provide the most stereo-selective irradiation modality known today. This novel irradiation modality has been shown to control seizures originating from eloquent cortex causing no neurological deficit in experimental animals. To test the hypothesis that application of microbeams in the hippocampus, the most common source of refractory seizures, is safe and does not induce severe side effects, we used microbeams to induce transections to the hippocampus of healthy rats. An array of parallel microbeams carrying an incident dose of 600 Gy was delivered to the rat hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry of phosphorylated γ-H2AX showed cell death along the microbeam irradiation paths in rats 48 hours after irradiation. No evident behavioral or neurological deficits were observed during the 3-month period of observation. MR imaging showed no signs of radio-induced edema or radionecrosis 3 months after irradiation. Histological analysis showed a very well preserved hippocampal cytoarchitecture and confirmed the presence of clear-cut microscopic transections across the hippocampus. These data support the use of synchrotron-generated microbeams as a novel tool to slice the hippocampus of living rats in a minimally invasive way, providing (i) a novel experimental model to study hippocampal function and (ii) a new treatment tool for patients affected by refractory epilepsy induced by mesial temporal sclerosis.

Characterization of a sCMOS-based high-resolution imaging system

The detection system is a key part of any imaging station. Here the performance of the novel sCMOS-based detection system installed at the ID17 biomedical beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and dedicated to high-resolution computed-tomography imaging is analysed. The system consists of an X-ray-visible-light converter, a visible-light optics and a PCO.Edge5.5 sCMOS detector. Measurements of the optical characteristics, the linearity of the system, the detection lag, the modulation transfer function, the normalized power spectrum, the detective quantum efficiency and the photon transfer curve are presented and discussed. The study was carried out at two different X-ray energies (35 and 50 keV) using both 2× and 1× optical magnification systems. The final pixel size resulted in 3.1 and 6.2 µm, respectively. The measured characteristic parameters of the PCO.Edge5.5 are in good agreement with the manufacturer specifications. Fast imaging can be achieved using this detection system, but at the price of unavoidable losses in terms of image quality. The way in which the X-ray beam inhomogeneity limited some of the performances of the system is also discussed.

Feasibility Study of the 3D Visualization at High Resolution of Intra-Cranial Rabbit Eyes With X-Ray CT Phase-Contrast Imaging

Purpose

The intracranial three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the whole volume of the eyeball at micrometric resolution has not been achieved yet either in clinical nor in preclinical diagnostic research. Overcoming this limitation may provide a new tool for clinical and preclinical studies of different pathologies of the various sections of the eye. The aim of this work is to give the first insight of a volumetric visualization at the high resolution of the entire enucleated and intracranial postmortem rabbit eyeballs.

Methods

X-ray computed tomography phase-contrast imaging was used to obtain 3D models of enucleated and intracranial rabbit eyes. Images were compared with the ones measured by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. The experiment was carried out at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility.

Results

Combining the unique possibilities offered by phase-contrast imaging, microtomography, and the properties of synchrotron radiation, the 3D visualization of the whole eyeball, at an isotropic voxel size of 3.1 μm3, is reported here for the first time.

Conclusions

High image contrast is achieved without the necessity of injection of contrast agents, thanks to the superior performances, achieved by x-ray phase-contrast imaging with respect to the conventional radiographic imaging. The measurement protocol developed within this work opens the way for in vivo high-resolution visualization of the entire organ.

Refraction and ultra-small-angle scattering of X-rays in a single-crystal diamond compound refractive lens

In this work a double-crystal setup is employed to study compound refractive lenses made of single-crystal diamond. The point spread function of the lens is calculated taking into account the lens transmission, the wavefront aberrations, and the ultra-small-angle broadening of the X-ray beam. It is shown that, similarly to the wavefront aberrations, the ultra-small-angle scattering effects can significantly reduce the intensity gain and increase the focal spot size. The suggested approach can be particularly useful for the characterization of refractive X-ray lenses composed of many tens of unit lenses.

Rat sensorimotor cortex tolerance to parallel transections induced by synchrotron-generated X-ray microbeams

Microbeam radiation therapy is a novel preclinical technique, which uses synchrotron-generated X-rays for the treatment of brain tumours and drug-resistant epilepsies. In order to safely translate this approach to humans, a more in-depth knowledge of the long-term radiobiology of microbeams in healthy tissues is required. We report here the result of the characterization of the rat sensorimotor cortex tolerance to microradiosurgical parallel transections. Healthy adult male Wistar rats underwent irradiation with arrays of parallel microbeams. Beam thickness, spacing and incident dose were 100 or 600 µm, 400 or 1200 µm and 360 or 150 Gy, respectively. Motor performance was carried over a 3-month period. Three months after irradiation rats were sacrificed to evaluate the effects of irradiation on brain tissues by histology and immunohistochemistry. Microbeam irradiation of sensorimotor cortex did not affect weight gain and motor performance. No gross signs of paralysis or paresis were also observed. The cortical architecture was not altered, despite the presence of cell death along the irradiation path. Reactive gliosis was evident in the microbeam path of rats irradiated with 150 Gy, whereas no increase was observed in rats irradiated with 360 Gy.

Generalized pupil function of a compound X-ray refractive lens

Quality of a refractive compound X-ray lens can be limited by imperfections in surfaces of unit lenses and stacking precision. In general case both the lens transmission and optical aberrations define properties of a beam in the lens exit plane; together they can be expressed in terms of the generalized pupil function. In this work we measure this function for a diamond single crystal compound refractive lens. Consequently, we apply the pupil function to evaluate the performance of the examined compound refractive X-ray lens. A number of practically important conclusions can be drawn from such analysis.

A method for high-energy, low-dose mammography using edge illumination x-ray phase-contrast imaging

Since the breast is one of the most radiosensitive organs, mammography is arguably the area where lowering radiation dose is of the uttermost importance. Phase-based x-ray imaging methods can provide opportunities in this sense, since they do not require x-rays to be stopped in tissue for image contrast to be generated. Therefore, x-ray energy can be considerably increased compared to those usually exploited by conventional mammography. In this article we show how a novel, optimized approach can lead to considerable dose reductions. This was achieved by matching the edge-illumination phase method, which reaches very high angular sensitivity also at high x-ray energies, to an appropriate image processing algorithm and to a virtually noise-free detection technology capable of reaching almost 100% efficiency at the same energies. Importantly, while proof-of-concept was obtained at a synchrotron, the method has potential for a translation to conventional sources.

Hard X-ray index of refraction tomography of a whole rabbit knee joint: A feasibility study

We report results of the computed tomography reconstruction of the index of refraction in a whole rabbit knee joint examined at the photon energy of 51keV. Refraction based images make it possible to delineate the bone, cartilage, and soft tissues without adjusting the contrast window width and level. Density variations, which are related to tissue composition and are not visible in absorption X-ray images, are detected in the obtained refraction based images. We discuss why refraction-based images provide better detectability of low contrast features than absorption images.

Characterization of mouse spinal cord vascular network by means of synchrotron radiation X-ray phase contrast tomography

High resolution Synchrotron-based X-ray Phase Contrast Tomography (XPCT) allows the simultaneous detection of three dimensional neuronal and vascular networks without using contrast agents or invasive casting preparation. We show and discuss the different features observed in reconstructed XPCT volumes of the ex vivo mouse spinal cord in the lumbo-sacral region, including motor neurons and blood vessels. We report the application of an intensity-based segmentation method to detect and quantitatively characterize the modification in the vascular networks in terms of reduction in experimental visibility. In particular, we apply our approach to the case of the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), i.e. human multiple sclerosis animal model.

In-line phase-contrast breast tomosynthesis: a phantom feasibility study at a synchrotron radiation facility

The major objective is to adopt, apply and test developed in-house algorithms for volumetric breast reconstructions from projection images, obtained in in-line phase-contrast mode. Four angular sets, each consisting of 17 projection images obtained from four physical phantoms, were acquired at beamline ID17, European Synchroton Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France. The tomosynthesis arc was  ±32°. The physical phantoms differed in complexity of texture and introduced features of interest. Three of the used phantoms were in-house developed, and made of epoxy resin, polymethyl-methacrylate and paraffin wax, while the fourth phantom was the CIRS BR3D. The projection images had a pixel size of 47 µm  ×  47 µm. Tomosynthesis images were reconstructed with standard shift-and-add (SAA) and filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithms. It was found that the edge enhancement observed in planar x-ray images is preserved in tomosynthesis images from both phantoms with homogeneous and highly heterogeneous backgrounds. In case of BR3D, it was found that features not visible in the planar case were well outlined in the tomosynthesis slices. In addition, the edge enhancement index calculated for features of interest was found to be much higher in tomosynthesis images reconstructed with FBP than in planar images and tomosynthesis images reconstructed with SAA. The comparison between images reconstructed by the two reconstruction algorithms shows an advantage for the FBP method in terms of better edge enhancement. Phase-contrast breast tomosynthesis realized in in-line mode benefits the detection of suspicious areas in mammography images by adding the edge enhancement effect to the reconstructed slices.

Virtual unrolling and deciphering of Herculaneum papyri by X-ray phase-contrast tomography

A collection of more than 1800 carbonized papyri, discovered in the Roman ‘Villa dei Papiri’ at Herculaneum is the unique classical library survived from antiquity. These papyri were charred during 79 A.D. Vesuvius eruption, a circumstance which providentially preserved them until now. This magnificent collection contains an impressive amount of treatises by Greek philosophers and, especially, Philodemus of Gadara, an Epicurean thinker of 1st century BC. We read many portions of text hidden inside carbonized Herculaneum papyri using enhanced X-ray phase-contrast tomography non-destructive technique and a new set of numerical algorithms for ‘virtual-unrolling’. Our success lies in revealing the largest portion of Greek text ever detected so far inside unopened scrolls, with unprecedented spatial resolution and contrast, all without damaging these precious historical manuscripts. Parts of text have been decoded and the ‘voice’ of the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus is brought back again after 2000 years from Herculaneum papyri.

High contrast microstructural visualization of natural acellular matrices by means of phase-based x-ray tomography

Acellular scaffolds obtained via decellularization are a key instrument in regenerative medicine both per se and to drive the development of future-generation synthetic scaffolds that could become available off-the-shelf. In this framework, imaging is key to the understanding of the scaffolds’ internal structure as well as their interaction with cells and other organs, including ideally post-implantation. Scaffolds of a wide range of intricate organs (esophagus, lung, liver and small intestine) were imaged with x-ray phase contrast computed tomography (PC-CT). Image quality was sufficiently high to visualize scaffold microarchitecture and to detect major anatomical features, such as the esophageal mucosal-submucosal separation, pulmonary alveoli and intestinal villi. These results are a long-sought step for the field of regenerative medicine; until now, histology and scanning electron microscopy have been the gold standard to study the scaffold structure. However, they are both destructive: hence, they are not suitable for imaging scaffolds prior to transplantation, and have no prospect for post-transplantation use. PC-CT, on the other hand, is non-destructive, 3D and fully quantitative. Importantly, not only do we demonstrate achievement of high image quality at two different synchrotron facilities, but also with commercial x-ray equipment, which makes the method available to any research laboratory.