The Elemental Breath: A Chemical Mosaic in Lung Tissue

The story

Hidden within the intricate architecture of lung tissue lies a chemical mosaic, a story told by the distribution of elements that govern health and disease. Using the X-ray imaging capabilities at MAX IV laboratory, researchers have illuminated this unseen world with unprecedented detail. At the heart of this process is the synchrotron, a marvel of modern science that generates intense and focused X-rays which acts as a nano-probe. The probe scans the lung tissue, allowing scientists to map the distribution of chemical elements at nanometer-scale resolution. The synchrotron’s ability to differentiate and quantify these elements is crucial for understanding their
role in processes like inflammation, and tissue remodeling—insights relevant to diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, lung cancer and COVID-19.

Research area

Respiratory pathology, lung biology, lung bioengineering and lung remodelling.

Impact

By visualizing the unseen interplay of elements in lung tissue, researchers can uncover new biomarkers, develop targeted therapies, and improve our understanding of how environmental factors like pollution affect respiratory health. These breakthroughs hold the promise of reducing the burden of chronic lung diseases, which are among the leading causes of mortality worldwide.

Image description

The is a merge of four different images corresponding to the distribution of zinc (red), sulfur (green), phosphorous (blue) and iron (yellow) in a thin section of a sample from a healthy human lung donor. Highlighted cells display a unique profile of zinc and sulphur.

Credits

To the Lung Biology team and the NanoMAX team at MAX IV Laboratories.