title: Synchrotron-based X-ray microscopic studies for bioeffects of nanomaterials.
abstract: There have been increasing interests in studying biological effects of nanomaterials, which are nevertheless faced up with many challenges due to the nanoscale dimensions and unique chemical properties of nanomaterials. Synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy, an advanced imaging technology with high spatial resolution and excellent elemental specificity, provides a new platform for studying interactions between nanomaterials and living systems. In this article, we review the recent progress of X-ray microscopic studies on bioeffects of nanomaterials in several living systems including cells, model organisms, animals and plants. We aim to provide an overview of the state of the art, and the advantages of using synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy for characterizing in vitro and in vivo behaviors and biodistribution of nanomaterials. We also expect that the use of a combination of new synchrotron techniques should offer unprecedented opportunities for better understanding complex interactions at the nano-biological interface and accounting for unique bioeffects of nanomaterials.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy is a non-destructive imaging technique that enables high resolution spatial mapping of metals with elemental level detection methods. This review summarizes the current use and perspectives of this novel technique in studying the biology and tissue interactions of nanomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Biology, and Bioimaging Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Biology, and Bioimaging Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Biology, and Bioimaging Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Biology, and Bioimaging Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: ztzhong@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Zengtao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Biology, and Bioimaging Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Biology, and Bioimaging Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: fchh@sinap.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Chunhai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017356:Synchrotrons / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014965:X-Rays
keywords: Bioeffects; Methodology; Nanomaterials; Synchrotron; X-ray microscopy