Speaker
Description
X-ray phase-contrast tomography provides a non-destructive 3D approach for the assessment of biomaterials and biological samples with high spatial and contrast resolution. Over the years, its ability to highlight tissue architecture and intricate material structures across multiple scales has been well-documented. By providing advanced morphological characterization, it is widely employed as a virtual histology tool in various pre-clinical contexts. Its powerful imaging capability enables the visualization of detailed anatomic features that facilitate the
discrimination among different pathological conditions [1]. The resulting
volumetric data can also be integrated into correlative workflows, complementing other imaging modalities to provide a comprehensive multi-modal analysis [2]. Furthermore, the detected microstructural features can be segmented and quantified in 3D, as well as image quality can be further enhanced using artificial intelligence pipeline [3]. Thus, X-ray phase-contrast tomography finds applicability from human-sized samples down to tissue biopsy punches. This talk will present a selection of X-ray phase-contrast tomography studies in life sciences conducted at
the SYRMEP imaging beamline at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste in Italy. In the framework of lung research, the recent pre-clinical results will be shown [4], establishing a promising basis for translating synchrotron imaging into clinical practice in view of the upcoming Trieste lung CT project within the Elettra 2.0 program.
[1] G. Saccomano et al. Skin research and Technology 30, e13801 (2024); doi: 10.1111/srt.13801.
[2] L. D’Amico et al. Computers in Biology and Medicine 169, 107947 (2024); doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.107947.
[3] M.M.R. Sagar et al. J. Synchrotron Rad. 32 (2025); doi:
https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600577525001511.
[4] C.V. Benke et al. Respiratory Research 27, 1, 105 (2026); doi: 10.1186/s12931-026-03561-1.