Synchrotron hard x-ray microprobe: Fluorescence imaging of single cells

Imaging of trace elements in single cells was achieved by synchrotron-induc ed x-ray fluorescence (SXRF) in the hard x-ray range. Monochromatic and "pi nk" excitations at 14 keV were used with compound refractive lenses resulti ng in a 1x10 mum(2) beam size. The experiment shows that SXRF is well suite d for microanalysis of freeze-dried cells, and demonstrated high accuracy i n quantitative imaging of trace element in cells treated with pharmacologic al doses of an iodine-labeled anticancer drug. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.