Imaging and etching: soft x-ray microscopy on whole wet cells

Abstract

We have produced images of whole wet tissue culture cells with the Stony Brook/BNL scanning transmission x-ray microscope (STXM). For fixed cells we have taken images at theoretical resolutions of ~50-75 nm, and in practice have measured FWHM of features down to near 100 nm, without any exotic image processing. For un-fixed (i.e., initially live) cells we have imaged with 100 nm pixels and measured features down to 250 nm. In order to do this we have developed, tested, and used a wet cell for maintaining fixed or live cells on the STXM stage during imaging. Our design of the wet cell and the culture substrates that go with it make the STXM compatible with almost all standard systems for surface adherent tissue culture. We show some new images of whole wet fixed and unfixed cells, with visible sub-micron features. We also report data that helps to characterize the tissue damage due to x-ray absorption during STXM imaging.

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