Journal of Bioinformatics, Proteomics and Imaging Analysis | Volume 2 | Issue 2 | 2016-08-25

Synchrotron radiation phase contrast imaging for clear visualization of magnetic particles

Rongbiao Tang

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Magnetic particles are broadly used for separating different components of a sample. The visualization of magnetic particles is very essential for qualitation and quantification of the components. However, conventional x-ray imaging techniques still have difficulties to clearly show magnetic particles especially when their x-ray attenuation is weak. Synchrotron radiation (SR) phase contrast imaging (PCI) has been widely utilized to improve soft tissue contrast [1-5] . In our study, SR absorption-based imaging (ABI) could not reveal the magnetic particles at all. In comparison, PCI could afford clear revelation of the beads (figure 1). The aggregation characteristics of magnetic particles under a magnet could also be evidently presented using PCI (figure 2). The results demonstrate that PCI has considerable potential for further detection studies by visibly displaying the magnetic particles. Figure 1: SR images of magnetic particles. (b) and (d) are magnified images of the region in a red box in (a) and (c), respectively. The magnetic particles could be clearly seen on phase contrast image (d), but not on absorption contrast image (b). Figure 2: PCI of magnetic particles under the influence of a magnetic field. Many magnetic particles were found to assemble along the upper edge of PE tube (arrows) by placing a permanent magnet over the tube. References 1. Lewis, R.A. Medical phase contrast x-ray imaging: current status and future prospects. (2004) Physics in Medicine & Biology 49(16): 3573-3583. 2. Momose, A., Takeda, T., Itai, Y., et al. Phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography for observing biological soft tissues. (1996) Nature Medicine 2: 473-475. 3. Tang, R., Chai, W.M., Yan, F., et al. Molecular evaluation of thrombosis using X-ray phase contrast imaging with microbubbles targeted to P-selectin in mice. (2016) Eur Radiol 26(9): 3253-3261. 4. Tang, R., Huang, W., Yan, F., et al. In-line phase contrast imaging of hepatic portal vein embolization with radiolucent embolic agents in mice: a preliminary study. (2013) Plos One 8(12): 182-182. 5. Tang, R., Xi, Y., Chai, W.M., et al. Microbubble-based synchrotron radiation phase contrast imaging: basic study and angiography applications.(2011) Phys Med Biol 56(12):3503-3512.