Coherent x-ray imaging of collagen fibril distributions within intact tendons.
The characterization of the structure of highly hierarchical biosamples such as collagen-based tissues at the scale of tens of nanometers is essential to correlate the tissue structure with its growth processes. Coherent x-ray Bragg ptychography is an innovative imaging technique that gives high resolution images of the ordered parts of such samples. Herein, we report how we used this method to image the collagen fibrillar ultrastructure of intact rat tail tendons. The images show ordered fibrils extending over 10-20 μm in length, with a quantifiable D-banding spacing variation of 0.2%. Occasional defects in the fibrils distribution have also been observed, likely indicating fibrillar fusion events.
London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: felisa.berenguer@synchrotron-soleil.fr.
Felisa
F
Berenguer
London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Richard J
RJ
Bean
London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Laurent
L
Bozec
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland.
Joan
J
Vila-Comamala
Department of Electronic and Electric Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Fucai
F
Zhang
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland.
Cameron M
CM
Kewish
Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland.
Oliver
O
Bunk
Department of Electronic and Electric Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Oxford Campus, Didcot, United Kingdom.
John M
JM
Rodenburg
London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Oxford Campus, Didcot, United Kingdom.
Ian K
IK
Robinson
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000378:metabolism*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D013710:Tendons / Q000378:metabolism*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D014965:X-Rays
D024022:Fibrillar Collagens