In vivo X-ray elemental imaging of single cell model organisms manipulated by laser-based optical tweezers

Eva Vergucht; Toon Brans; Filip Beunis; Jan Garrevoet; Maarten De Rijcke; Stephen Bauters; David Deruytter; Michiel Vandegehuchte; Ine Van Nieuwenhove; Colin Janssen; Manfred Burghammer; Laszlo Vincze

doi:10.1038/srep09049

In vivo X-ray elemental imaging of single cell model organisms manipulated by laser-based optical tweezers

Sci Rep. 2015 Mar 12:5:9049. doi: 10.1038/srep09049.

Affiliations

¹ X-ray Microspectroscopy and Imaging Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S12), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
² 1] Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium [2] Center for Nano and Biophotonics, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
³ Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
⁴ 1] X-ray Microspectroscopy and Imaging Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S12), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium [2] European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
⁵ Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S4), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
⁶ 1] European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, F-38000 Grenoble, France [2] X-ray Microspectroscopy and Imaging Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S12), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.

Abstract

We report on a radically new elemental imaging approach for the analysis of biological model organisms and single cells in their natural, in vivo state. The methodology combines optical tweezers (OT) technology for non-contact, laser-based sample manipulation with synchrotron radiation confocal X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microimaging for the first time. The main objective of this work is to establish a new method for in vivo elemental imaging in a two-dimensional (2D) projection mode in free-standing biological microorganisms or single cells, present in their aqueous environment. Using the model organism Scrippsiella trochoidea, a first proof of principle experiment at beamline ID13 of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) demonstrates the feasibility of the OT XRF methodology, which is applied to study mixture toxicity of Cu-Ni and Cu-Zn as a result of elevated exposure. We expect that the new OT XRF methodology will significantly contribute to the new trend of investigating microorganisms at the cellular level with added in vivo capability.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Computer-Aided Design
Equipment Design
Microalgae*
Optical Tweezers*
Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission* / instrumentation
Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission* / methods