The University of Portsmouth (UoP) has secured £250,000 in funding for a groundbreaking project focused on creating highly detailed three-dimensional images of plant and animal tissues. This initiative, housed in the Future Technology Centre (FTC), utilizes a unique lab-based X-ray machine, a first of its kind globally. Led by Dr. Charles Wood, a Senior Scientific Officer, the project is set to advance X-ray microscopy significantly.
The FTC’s X-ray equipment is already renowned for its capabilities, making it one of the UK’s leading X-ray labs. It has been used to capture detailed images of dinosaur bones, scan delicate historical artifacts non-destructively, and examine intricate aerospace components. With the new funding, the focus will shift to exploring biological soft materials using advanced X-ray imaging techniques that achieve sub-micron resolution and cryogenically freeze samples during scans.
Dr. Wood and a postdoctoral researcher will investigate different freezing methods, such as flash freezing, ramped freezing, and high-pressure freezing, to see how they impact the clarity of X-ray imaging. Flash freezing occurs rapidly, while ramped freezing happens more slowly. High-pressure freezing aims to prevent ice crystals from forming in soft tissues, which can cause damage. This method is particularly beneficial for subsequent electron microscopy, though it requires very small samples and still faces challenges with ice crystal formation.
The goal is to image biological tissues in their native state. Many biological tissues contain water and can dry out at room temperature, but freezing preserves them closer to their original condition, providing more accurate data. High-pressure freezing is especially promising for preventing ice crystal damage, crucial for maintaining the integrity of soft tissues like cartilage and dentine, which interact with harder materials such as bones and enamel.
Understanding the interaction between soft and hard materials is vital for health. For example, cartilage in joints can wear down and lead to osteoarthritis due to its interaction with bone. Detailed imaging can reveal these interactions at a microscopic level, enhancing our knowledge of various biological systems.
This innovative technology promises to revolutionize lab-based X-ray bioscience research. By offering unparalleled imaging detail, it allows scientists to study how living organisms function at a cellular level, providing insights that were previously unattainable. The project aims to make this advanced X-ray microscopy available to more researchers, setting new standards in the field.
The funding for this project was granted by the UK Research and Innovation’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, supporting UoP’s efforts to push the boundaries of X-ray imaging and bioscience research.