Exploiting nanoprobe X-ray techniques for imaging of biomineralisation; chemical, structural and in situ opportunities

DOI: 10.1039/D5FD00037H

Authors: Jessica Walker (Diamond Light Source) , Miguel A. Gomez Gonzalez (Diamond Light Source) , Johannes Ihli (University of Oxford) , Julia E. Parker (Diamond Light Source)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Faraday Discussions

State: Published (Approved)
Published: May 2025

Abstract: Advances in X-ray nanoprobe beamlines at synchrotrons across the world present exciting opportunities for rich multimodal imaging of biomineral structures and their formation processes. The combination of techniques provides a sensitive probe of both chemistry and structure, making X-ray nanoprobes an important tool for investigating crystallite growth and orientations, interfaces and assembly of building blocks into hierarchical structures. A discussion of these capabilities is presented with reference to recent examples using a range of nanoprobe imaging techniques for investigating enamel structure, as well as coccolith properties. Key opportunities for the use of X-ray nanoprobes lie in exploiting the penetrating power and coherence properties of synchrotron X-rays in order to image in situ processes or apply coherent diffractive imaging techniques to obtain higher resolutions. To this end initial results demonstrating the observation of calcium phosphate mineralisation, in a liquid environment, using nano-X-ray fluorescence mapping are presented, and the role of X-ray dose and beam induced effects is considered. Finally novel results from tomographic ptychography imaging of a Mytilus Edulis mussel shell calcite prisms are discussed, where the segmentation of the phase density into organic and mineral content give insights into the mechanisms underlying mineral prism formation and the role of the organic matrix in biomineralisation.

Diamond Keywords: Biomineralisation

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Chemistry, Materials


Instruments: I08-Scanning X-ray Microscopy beamline (SXM) , I14-Hard X-ray Nanoprobe

Other Facilities: cSAXS at SLS

Added On: 03/05/2025 16:31

Documents:
d5fd00037h.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Biomaterials Biochemistry Chemistry Materials Science Biophysics Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Imaging Spectroscopy X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES)