The main objective of the proposed project is to develop a novel x-ray microscope for three-dimensional histology of soft-tissue samples pushing/breaking the long-standing limit for understanding of tissue morphology and physiology in health and disease.
Histology is the study of microscopic structure of tissue. In this project we aim to build a prototype system for three-dimensional (3D) histology of tissue samples: the AXES.histo scanner. In pathology, state-of-the-art histology is performed by slicing the tissue into thin sections, for study in a visual light microscope. Histological protocols are well established for pathological studies, typically with staining added to highlight specific features in the sample. In this way, high quality images of (two-dimensional) slices can be obtained. But when it comes to the study of three-dimensional morphology, classical histology is not the best option.
Instead, other methods can provide 3D images: In clinical and pre-clinical imaging, methodologies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), and Ultra-Sound can provide non-destructive imaging of internal structures, but with insufficient resolution for histology. Even high-resolution pre-clinical scanners, such as micro-MRI and micro-CT, are limited to approximately 50-100 µm resolution range.
This has made histological sectioning the de facto gold standard for pathology. However, histological sectioning is naturally limited to 2D rather than 3D imaging, which – in some cases – is preventing correct morphological interpretation.
Now, with this proposed AXES.histo scanner, 3D virtual histology with a lab-based scanner is within reach.
The AXES.histo scanner proposed here, is a phase-contrast x-ray tomography scanner, relying on grating-based phase-contrast imaging for contrast in soft tissue. To achieve this goal, a novel inverse-geometry single-grating setup is proposed, relying on state-of-the-art x-ray source and detector technology.
