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Updated: Jun 30, 2026

3D Imaging of Soft-Tissue Samples using an X-ray Specific Staining Method and Nanoscopic Computed Tomography
Published on: October 24, 2019
X-ray microtomographic imaging of three-dimensional structure of soft tissues
Ryuta Mizutani1, Akihisa Takeuchi, Kentaro Uesugi
1Department of Applied Biochemistry, School of Engineering, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan. ryuta@tokai-u.jp
Abstract:
We report the x-ray microtomographic imaging of three-dimensional (3D) structure of soft tissues. The transparency of biological tissue to hard x-rays enables radiographic analysis of tissue entrails. However, biological tissues are mainly composed of light elements, which produce little contrast in a hard x-ray transmission image. Tissue structures were visualized by contrasting biological constituents with heavy elements. Efficient x-ray absorption by heavy-element dyes allowed the radiographic visualization of microstructures of soft tissues. The high-resolution computed tomography analysis provided the 3D microstructure of these microcontrasted tissues. Element-selective visualization of the stained tissue using x-ray absorption edges revealed the specific architecture of internal components. The structures obtained were used for rapid prototyping, giving 3D copies of human capillary vessels and fruit fly body.
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