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

International audienceImaging of trace elements in single cells was achieved by synchrotron-induced x-ray fluorescence ~SXRF! in the hard x-ray range. Monochromatic and ‘‘pink'' excitations at 14 keV were used with compound refractive lenses resulting in a 1310 mm2 beam size. The experiment shows that SXRF is well suited for microanalysis of freeze-dried cells, and demonstrated high accuracy in quantitative imaging of trace element in cells treated with pharmacological doses of an iodine-labeled anticancer drug