Nanoscopic X-ray fluorescence imaging and quantification of intracellular key-elements in cryofrozen Friedreich’s ataxia fibroblasts

De Samber B, Meul E, Laforce B, De Paepe B, Smet J, De Bruyne M, et al. (2018). PLoS ONE 13(1): e0190495. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0190495

Interestingly, no significant difference in the mean iron concentration was found in the cytoplasm of FRDA fibroblasts, but a significant decrease in zinc concentration. This finding might underscore metal dysregulation, beyond iron, in cells derived from FRDA patients. In conclusion, although currently having slightly increased limits of detection (LODs) compared to non-cryogenic mode, SR based nanoscopic XRF under cryogenic sample conditions largely obliterates the debate on chemical sample preservation and provides a unique tool for trace level elemental imaging in single cells close to their native state with a superior spatial resolution of 20 nm.

 Nanoscopic X-ray fluorescence imaging and quantification of intracellular key-elements in cryofrozen Friedreich’s ataxia fibroblasts