Mouse tibia imaged using ZEISS Xradia Context microCT

X-Ray Imaging Applications for Life Sciences

Gain More Insights from Your Mineralized Tissue Specimens

Multiscale Bone Acquisitions Down to the Nanoscale

X-ray imaging is invaluable in skeletal research both for sample characterization and for bone morphometry measurements. MicroCT (µCT) is a common type of X-ray technology used for the non-destructive generation of 3D datasets. Unlike other microscopy approaches, X-ray imaging can be used with intact samples; no cutting or sectioning is required.

Bone Morphometry Measurements

Mouse long bone with trabecular bone segmented. Imaging: ZEISS Xradia Versa; segmentation and animation: ORS Dragonfly Pro Bone Analysis Module. Sample from the collection of Daniel Wescott, University of Texas at San Marcos.

Easy Quantification of Bone Microarchitecture

Insights into bone structure and condition are revealed using X-ray imaging and parameters such as trabecular thickness, BV/TV, or cortical to trabecular bone ratio are important measurables to study. Consistency and repeatability of bone morphometry measurements calculated from µCT datasets rely on the use of standard procedures for sample preparation, image acquisition and image processing¹. The ZEISS Xradia range of X-ray instruments provides high contrast capabilities that make these standard acquisitions quick and easy.

Sample courtesy of Daniel Wescott, University of Texas at San Marcos.
Mouse long bone segmented and analyzed to generate some of the standard quantifiable measures for bone. Imaging: ZEISS Xradia Versa; segmentation, analysis, and reporting: ORS Dragonfly Pro Bone Analysis Module.

Mouse long bone segmented and analyzed to generate some of the standard quantifiable measures for bone Sample courtesy of Daniel Wescott, University of Texas at San Marcos. — Sample courtesy of Daniel Wescott, University of Texas at San Marcos.
Mouse long bone segmented and analyzed to generate some of the standard quantifiable measures for bone. Imaging: ZEISS Xradia Versa; segmentation, analysis, and reporting: ORS Dragonfly Pro Bone Analysis Module.

Valuable and Precise Bone Morphometry Assessments

The ZEISS Xradia Context µCT is ideal for acquisition of specimens from millimeters to centimeters in size and generates unrivalled image quality and contrast. The ZEISS Xradia Versa X-ray microscope uses two-stage magnification to generate higher resolution insights, even in larger specimens, and this is fueling excitement in the skeletal research community². Combining either of these tools with the Dragonfly Pro Bone Analysis Module³ provides a powerful and robust solution for assessing and quantifying bone microarchitecture.

Assessing Quality and Mechanical Properties of Bone

A bear jaw imaged at multiple magnifications using ZEISS Xradia Versa to ultimately explore the interface between the tooth and the jaw.

From Micro- To Nano- Structural Analysis

Multiscale acquisition of bone provides a wealth of information about bone architecture across different length scales. The multiple objective lenses of the ZEISS Xradia Versa X-ray microscope enable characterization of bone across these length scales to reveal details of the hierarchical structure².

Adult zebrafish imaged at two resolutions to visualize osteocyte lacunae at high resolution in the intact fish specimen. Dataset captured using ZEISS Xradia Versa. Animation from S. Suniaga et al (2018)⁴.

Assessing Bone Health and Structure Using Osteocyte Lacunae

Localization, orientation, and volume of osteocyte lacunae can be quantified using high resolution X-ray microscope data⁴. These insights can be challenging to reach using traditional µCT due to limitations in resolution and contrast⁵.

Comparison of trabecular bone and magnesium-based biomaterial using in situ XRM, X-ray CT mechanics and DVC. Courtesy of Dr. Roxane Bonithon, Zeiss Global Lab, Future Technology Center, School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth.

Measuring Strain Distribution in Bone Tissue in situ

Understanding strain distribution is crucial for further investigating the structure-function relationship of bone. How changes in bone tissue or biomaterial architecture influence its mechanical properties and the load transfer within the bone, joint or surrounding tissue can all be assessed. In situ imaging is a powerful approach to perform such 4D assessments since specimens can be imaged inside an in-situ rig at high resolution using the Xradia Versa XRM and then subjected to compression prior to repeating this routine as required. The 3D full-field strain distribution and magnitude of each sample can then be assessed using Digital Volume Correlation (DVC)⁵.

Improved Throughput of 3D Analyses in Bone

Mouse cortical bone imaged with ZEISS Xradia Versa, reconstructed using DeepRecon with 751 projections

Mouse cortical bone imaged with ZEISS Xradia Versa, reconstructed using FDK with 3001 projections (left) and DeepRecon with 751 projections (right). Sample courtesy of D. Rowland, University of California, Davis, USA.

Simultaneous Reduction of Noise and Acquisition Time with Deep Learning Reconstruction

3D X-ray assessment of bone microstructure demands a high number of datapoints for reproducibility and robustness. Most commercial 3D X-ray systems use the Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (FDK) algorithm, which generates good quality images but requires a relatively high number of projections and/or long exposure times to reduce noise and artifacts. ZEISS Deep Learning reconstruction (DeepRecon) requires far fewer 2D projection images, thereby reducing data acquisition times and improving the µCT throughput by up to 10 times.

Without the need of any additional X-ray beam-line hardware, DeepRecon significantly increases the throughput of 3D musculoskeletal analysis in addition to reducing noise to reveal structure and subtle differences in grayscale.

  
      Imaging in Action
      
    Future Technology Centre, University of Portsmouth

Learn how ZEISS Xradia Versa X-ray microscopes are used to investigate the microstructure of biological tissues and to perform in-situ comparison and interaction tests of bones and biomaterials from the macro- to the nanoscale.

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