Extreme-ct

Multiscale label-free 3D x-ray imaging: Visualizing cells and tissue architecture simultaneously

Researchers from physics, data science and bio-imaging join forces in an interdisciplinary endeavor where recent advances in X-ray physics will go hand in hand with AI and knowhow in bone and brain science to shed new light on the inner workings of the human body.

About

Biology makes tissues with hierarchical structure comprised of cells, that in turn are composed of organelles and – at the finest length scale – molecules. Life itself, as well as many diseases, depend on intricate interactions between these structural levels. Yet, it has proven exceedingly difficult to make the required 3D pictures traversing the length scales from the sub-cellular to the cm of biological tissues like bones and brains. The aim of the Xtreme-CT project is to make it possible to make such 3D images. To this end, researchers from physics, data science and bio-imaging will join forces in an interdisciplinary endeavor where recent advances in X-ray physics will go hand in hand with artificial intelligence and knowhow in bone and brain science to shed new light on the inner workings of the human body.

Outlook

Multicellular life is intricately tied to complex hierarchical structures, and Xtreme-CT is poised to play a crucial role in various scientific domains. Its applications extend to human biology for organ and embryological studies, as well as zoology and botany, enabling the examination of intricate systems like plant water and sugar transport. The potential for evolutionary biology is substantial, aligning with global digitization efforts for natural history museum collections. A full Xtreme-CT acquisition, taking only minutes of synchrotron beamtime, could revolutionize large-scale imaging, visualizing tens of thousands of specimens annually with the anticipated upgrade of synchrotrons to 4th generation sources. Beyond biology, Xtreme-CT has significant implications in physics, particularly in materials science, mechanical engineering, and Non Destructive Testing, where multi-scale visualization enhances understanding. Moreover, the method's adaptability serves as a prototype for AI applications in diverse fields, including clinical contexts, by integrating detailed knowledge from CT or Xtreme-CT into in vivo imaging modalities like MRI or PET.