A high throughput high resolution and high sensitivity scanning X ray fluorescence microprobe for elemental mapping in cell cultures and tissues for medical research and diagnosis

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Trace elements are well known to have critical roles in a wide variety of diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimerandapos s and Wilsonandapos s diseases Due to their biological importance there have been numerous studies performed with spectroscopy techniques such as laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry LA ICP MS to understand absolute concentration values in tissue More recent developments in synchrotron X ray Fluorescence XRF have enabled rapid high resolution mapping of absolute concentration values and significantly the quantitative distribution analysis of multiple trace elements at once Such systems provide up to parts per billion sensitivity to map trace elements at micron scale resolution in diseased tissue We propose to develop a laboratory scanning X ray fluorescence microprobe for the biomedical community that will make it possible for the first time to bring trace elemental mapping at the cellular level currently only achievable at synchrotron facilities This will be achieved by bringig vast improvements to standard laboratory XRF by key innovations on the source optics and detector Up to X fluorescence signal gain over existing commercial micro XRF systems will be achieved enabling key capabilities for biomedical application x ray fluorescence mapping within the laboratory The proposed Phase II project aims to build a working prototype of the microXRF system Key deliverables of this project include completing system engineering design final prototype of the x ray source prototype of Wolter x ray mirror lens integration of the system components and experimental demonstration of ppm detection sensitivity at a spatial resolution of m PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE This project proposes to develop the first biomedical x ray fluorescence microprobe for laboratory use with outstanding trace element mapping capability and comprising three main innovations on the source optics and detector The systemandapos s capabilities are intended to enable high sensitivity mapping of trace elements in diseases to further understand the relationship between trace element distribution and disease progression The pursuit of this understanding is motivated by the growing evidence of relationships between trace amounts of specific elements with both aging related diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases and developmental diseases such as autism as well as due to the importance of mapping cellular and tissue uptake of metal based drugs in new metal based e g anti cancer and anti HIV therapeutic drugs and nanoparticle based drug delivery techniques