title: In vivo X-ray elemental imaging of single cell model organisms manipulated by laser-based optical tweezers.
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.
authors.affiliation: X-ray Microspectroscopy and Imaging Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S12), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vergucht
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Toon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brans
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beunis
authors.affiliation: X-ray Microspectroscopy and Imaging Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S12), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garrevoet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Rijcke
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deruytter
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandegehuchte
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S4), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ine
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van Nieuwenhove
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burghammer
authors.affiliation: X-ray Microspectroscopy and Imaging Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S12), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vincze
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D058086:Microalgae; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods