Cryo-X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging Enables Combined 3D Structural Quantification and Nucleic Acid Analysis of...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Molecular Biology
• Pathology

Background:

• Snap-frozen biopsies are crucial for disease research, enabling nucleic acid analysis.
• 3D structural information from biopsies is challenging to obtain pre-multi-omics.
• Conventional histology has limitations for soft tissues like the heart due to destructive processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of synchrotron-based cryo-X-ray phase contrast imaging (cryo-X-PCI) for snap-frozen myocardial biopsies.
• To evaluate the preservation of 3D tissue structure and nucleic acids after cryo-X-PCI.
• To determine the clinical value of cryo-X-PCI for pre-nucleic acid analysis of biopsies.

Main Methods:

• Snap-frozen myocardial biopsies were prepared and analyzed using synchrotron-based cryo-X-PCI.
• 3D structure tensor analysis was performed on aggregated myocytes.
• Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) were extracted and analyzed post-imaging.

Main Results:

• Optimal sample preparation is critical for preserving both tissue structure and nucleic acids.
• Cryo-X-PCI did not negatively impact nucleic acid preservation.
• The 3D structural integrity of myocardial tissue was maintained.

Conclusions:

• Cryo-X-PCI is a feasible technique for 3D analysis of snap-frozen myocardial biopsies.
• This method allows for structural characterization before molecular analysis without compromising nucleic acids.
• Cryo-X-PCI holds potential clinical value for soft tissue biopsies, including cardiac and non-cardiac samples.