High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers
High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers
Phase-contrast micro-tomography ([Formula: see text]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 [Formula: see text]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.
Algorithms, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods, Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods, Placenta/diagnostic imaging, Pregnancy, Synchrotrons, X-Ray Microtomography/methods
Savatović, Sara
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Laundon, Davis
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De Marco, Fabio
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Riedel, Mirko
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Hammel, Jörg U
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Busse, Madleen
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Salomé, Murielle
6308cb60-dd8e-4bee-ab49-c2710a5695de
Pascolo, Lorella
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Zanette, Irene
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Lewis, Rohan M
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Herzen, Julia
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Thibault, Pierre
975a4c7b-6ca9-4958-b362-9eba10ab926b
16 January 2025
Savatović, Sara
217e351b-34ea-4560-a044-de9620c3c437
Laundon, Davis
b2ba5687-d949-47dd-b84f-fb3c0c032550
De Marco, Fabio
fe0ff311-e459-4a14-b445-16669ac6adbd
Riedel, Mirko
326ea040-9576-445d-8b04-2ee69b3897db
Hammel, Jörg U
ec94533e-a557-4d2e-8c3d-c67d3efb821e
Busse, Madleen
cce1877c-2c65-4142-8968-fd2e6c12aed1
Salomé, Murielle
6308cb60-dd8e-4bee-ab49-c2710a5695de
Pascolo, Lorella
8e02002e-1567-4686-9e39-07090323c609
Zanette, Irene
39ee899c-0aae-4fac-aec6-826f848a8022
Lewis, Rohan M
caaeb97d-ea69-4f7b-8adb-5fa25e2d3502
Herzen, Julia
2f599af5-2bb2-481c-828f-22c05ceabc3f
Thibault, Pierre
975a4c7b-6ca9-4958-b362-9eba10ab926b
Savatović, Sara, Laundon, Davis, De Marco, Fabio, Riedel, Mirko, Hammel, Jörg U, Busse, Madleen, Salomé, Murielle, Pascolo, Lorella, Zanette, Irene, Lewis, Rohan M, Herzen, Julia and Thibault, Pierre
(2025)
High-resolution X-ray phase-contrast tomography of human placenta with different wavefront markers.
Scientific Reports, 15 (1), [2131].
(doi:10.1038/s41598-025-85105-z).
Abstract
Phase-contrast micro-tomography ([Formula: see text]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 [Formula: see text]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.
Text
s41598-025-85105-z
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Accepted/In Press date: 1 January 2025
Published date: 16 January 2025
Additional Information:
© 2025. The Author(s).
Keywords:
Algorithms, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods, Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods, Placenta/diagnostic imaging, Pregnancy, Synchrotrons, X-Ray Microtomography/methods
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 498291
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/498291
ISSN: 2045-2322
PURE UUID: 6e685153-eee8-4eab-b398-ee65803054cf
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Date deposited: 13 Feb 2025 18:08
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:34
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Contributors
Author:
Sara Savatović
Author:
Davis Laundon
Author:
Fabio De Marco
Author:
Mirko Riedel
Author:
Jörg U Hammel
Author:
Madleen Busse
Author:
Murielle Salomé
Author:
Lorella Pascolo
Author:
Irene Zanette
Author:
Julia Herzen
Author:
Pierre Thibault
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