A new method for observing live mammalian cells has been created by researchers. Using a powerful laser known as a soft X-ray free electron laser, the team was able to produce rapid pulses of light at the speed of femtoseconds, or quadrillionths of a second. This allowed them to capture images of carbon-based structures within living cells for the first time, without causing damage from the soft X-ray radiation.or quadrillionths of a second. Using this technology, scientists were able to take pictures of carbon-based structures in living cells for the first time without damaging them with soft X-ray radiation. They developed Wolter mirrors, a highly precise type of mirror, to allow the microscope to capture images with high spatial resolution and a wide field of view. In the future, the team plans to use this microscope to gain a better understanding of the constantly changing nature of cellular biology.
Did you know there are soft X-rays and hard X-rays? Hard X-rays are what you’ll most likely have encountered, if you’ve been through airport security or suffered aA broken limb. Soft X-rays are usually only used for research purposes, such as studying biology, chemistry, minerals, and meteorites. These rays can provide detailed images at the subcellular level and offer chemical information about samples. However, their use has been limited due to the specialized equipment needed and the damage they cause to living cells in biology.
Despite this, a team of researchers has developed a new soft X-ray microscope that allowed them to observe live mammalian cells for the first time. They were able to capture images of carbon structures within the cells, which had not been previously seen with other techniques.Carbon is a vital element for life and this new microscope allows us to explore this essential part of ourselves in a new way. The microscope is made up of a soft X-ray free electron laser and highly precise Wolter mirrors. These mirrors, which are commonly used in X-ray telescopes for observing space, were created using technology developed by Satoru Egawa, an assistant professor at the University of Tokyo. The soft X-ray free electron laser provides rapid pulse illumination at the speed of tens of femtoseconds.a breakthrough in imaging larger mammalian cells with soft X-ray free electron lasers. The ultrashort radiation pulses allowed the team to capture images of living cells before radiation damage altered their structure. Wolter mirrors were used for both illumination and imaging, providing a wide field of view and the ability to withstand powerful laser irradiation without color distortion. This made them ideal for observing samples at various wavelengths. This method has previously been used to study smaller viruses and bacteria, but the use of Wolter mirrors allowed the team to successfully image larger mammalian cells with soft X-ray free electron lasers.A thicker sample holder was used to enable a wider field of vision and accommodate larger cells. The resulting images revealed previously unseen details about the carbon content within the cells, surpassing the capabilities of electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy.
Egawa expressed surprise at discovering a carbon pathway between the nucleolus and the nuclear membrane, which had not been previously observed using visible light microscopes. Additionally, brighter soft X-ray free electron lasers are now accessible, promising even clearer images in the future.The team is working on upgrading the microscope to observe more biochemical elements by adding brighter lasers and more precise Wolter mirrors. This could help illuminate the vital reactions and interactions within living cells.
