High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers
Abstract Phase-contrast micro-tomography ( $$\upmu$$ CT) with synchrotron radiation can aid in the differentiation of subtle density variations in weakly absorbing soft tissue specimens. Modulation-based imaging (MBI) extracts phase information from the distortion of reference patterns, generated by...
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2025-01-01
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85105-z |
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author | Sara Savatović Davis Laundon Fabio De Marco Mirko Riedel Jörg U. Hammel Madleen Busse Murielle Salomé Lorella Pascolo Irene Zanette Rohan M. Lewis Julia Herzen Pierre Thibault |
author_facet | Sara Savatović Davis Laundon Fabio De Marco Mirko Riedel Jörg U. Hammel Madleen Busse Murielle Salomé Lorella Pascolo Irene Zanette Rohan M. Lewis Julia Herzen Pierre Thibault |
author_sort | Sara Savatović |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Phase-contrast micro-tomography ( $$\upmu$$ CT) with synchrotron radiation can aid in the differentiation of subtle density variations in weakly absorbing soft tissue specimens. Modulation-based imaging (MBI) extracts phase information from the distortion of reference patterns, generated by periodic or randomly structured wavefront markers (e.g., gratings or sandpaper). The two approaches have already found application for the virtual inspection of biological samples. Here, we perform high-resolution $$\upmu$$ CT scans of an unstained human placenta specimen, using MBI with both a 2D grating and sandpaper as modulators, as well as conventional propagation-based imaging (PBI). The 3D virtual representation of placenta offers a valuable tool for analysing its intricate branching villous network and vascular structure, providing new insights into its complex architecture. Within this study, we assess reconstruction quality achieved with all three evaluated phase-contrast methods. Both MBI datasets are processed with the Unified Modulated Pattern Analysis (UMPA) model, a pattern-matching algorithm. In order to evaluate the benefits and suitability of MBI for virtual histology, we discuss how the complexities of the technique influence image quality and correlate the obtained volumes to 2D techniques, such as conventional histology and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental maps. |
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institution | Kabale University |
issn | 2045-2322 |
language | English |
publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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spelling | doaj-art-a6d72d6c036545c583d0e035c3bb048f2025-01-19T12:23:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-85105-zHigh-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markersSara Savatović0Davis Laundon1Fabio De Marco2Mirko Riedel3Jörg U. Hammel4Madleen Busse5Murielle Salomé6Lorella Pascolo7Irene Zanette8Rohan M. Lewis9Julia Herzen10Pierre Thibault11Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of MunichHuman Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonDepartment of Physics, University of TriesteMunich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of MunichInstitute of Materials Physics, Helmholtz-Zentrum hereonMunich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of MunichESRF - The European Synchrotron Radiation FacilityInstitute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo GarofoloElettra - Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A.Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of SouthamptonMunich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of MunichDepartment of Physics, University of TriesteAbstract Phase-contrast micro-tomography ( $$\upmu$$ CT) with synchrotron radiation can aid in the differentiation of subtle density variations in weakly absorbing soft tissue specimens. Modulation-based imaging (MBI) extracts phase information from the distortion of reference patterns, generated by periodic or randomly structured wavefront markers (e.g., gratings or sandpaper). The two approaches have already found application for the virtual inspection of biological samples. Here, we perform high-resolution $$\upmu$$ CT scans of an unstained human placenta specimen, using MBI with both a 2D grating and sandpaper as modulators, as well as conventional propagation-based imaging (PBI). The 3D virtual representation of placenta offers a valuable tool for analysing its intricate branching villous network and vascular structure, providing new insights into its complex architecture. Within this study, we assess reconstruction quality achieved with all three evaluated phase-contrast methods. Both MBI datasets are processed with the Unified Modulated Pattern Analysis (UMPA) model, a pattern-matching algorithm. In order to evaluate the benefits and suitability of MBI for virtual histology, we discuss how the complexities of the technique influence image quality and correlate the obtained volumes to 2D techniques, such as conventional histology and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental maps.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85105-z |
spellingShingle | Sara Savatović Davis Laundon Fabio De Marco Mirko Riedel Jörg U. Hammel Madleen Busse Murielle Salomé Lorella Pascolo Irene Zanette Rohan M. Lewis Julia Herzen Pierre Thibault High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers Scientific Reports |
title | High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers |
title_full | High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers |
title_fullStr | High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers |
title_full_unstemmed | High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers |
title_short | High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers |
title_sort | high resolution x ray phase contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers |
url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85105-z |
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