Non-destructive phase contrast hard X-ray imaging to reveal the three-dimensional microstructure of soft and hard tissues Anna Khimchenko a , Georg Schulz a , Hans Deyhle a , Simone E. Hieber a , Samiul Hasan b , Christos Bikis a , Joachim Schulz b , Lo¨ ıc Costeur c , Bert M¨ uller a* a University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Gewerbestrasse 14, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; b Microworks GmbH, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; c Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Augustinergasse 2, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ABSTRACT X-ray imaging in the absorption contrast mode is an established method of visualising calcified tissues such as bone and teeth. Physically soft tissues such as brain or muscle are often imaged using magnetic resonance imag- ing (MRI). However, the spatial resolution of MRI is insufficient for identifying individual biological cells within three-dimensional tissue. X-ray grating interferometry (XGI) has advantages for the investigation of soft tissues or the simultaneous three-dimensional visualisation of soft and hard tissues. Since laboratory microtomography ( CT) systems have better accessibility than tomography set-ups at synchrotron radiation facilities, a great deal of effort has been invested in optimising XGI set-ups for conventional CT systems. In this conference proceed- ing, we present how a two-grating interferometer is incorporated into a commercially available nanotom m (GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies GmbH) CT system to extend its capabilities toward phase contrast. We intend to demonstrate superior contrast in spiders (Hogna radiata (Fam. Lycosidae ) and Xysticus erraticus (Fam. Thomisidae )), as well as the simultaneous visualisation of hard and soft tissues. XGI is an imaging modality that provides quantitative data, and visualisation is an important part of biomimetics; consequently, hard X-ray imaging provides a sound basis for bioinspiration, bioreplication and biomimetics and allows for the quantitative comparison of biofabricated products with their natural counterparts. Keywords: X-ray microtomography, phase contrast, grating interferometer set-up, laboratory-based microto- mography systems. 1. INTRODUCTION Biomimetics is a broad interdisciplinary field characterised by information transfer from nature to technical ap- plications 1 and whose principle goal is to provide a deep understanding of strategies that evolve in nature. As processes and structures in nature are broad in length, 2 very often one has to work on the (sub-)microscopic level. 1 Nature has a complex three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical spatial form of organisation, and so 3D non-destructive quantitative visualisation with micrometer resolution is attractive for extracting structural and functional infor- mation. Advantages in micro-computed tomography ( CT) have made it a highly effective technique for studying higher-density materials 3 down to the sub-micrometer level. The high-resolution visualisation of physically hard materials is successfully performed in the absorption contrast mode. 4, 5 The challenge faced in visualising soft ma- terials is low attenuation differences, 6 and so investigation of soft materials is based preferentially on staining and sectioning, or it is performed in the phase contrast mode. Phase contrast imaging is often successfully performed via synchrotron radiation-based micro-computed tomography (SR CT); however, experiments at synchrotron facilities are sophisticated and impose severe time restrictions on the user. 7 Nowadays, X-ray laboratory-based CT systems are used widely in scientific research. However, the potential and flexibility of these systems are underestimated. 8 A great deal of effort has been invested in optimising grating * bert.mueller@unibas.ch; phone: +41 61 207 54 30; fax: +41 61 207 54 99; bmc.unibas.ch Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication 2016, edited by Raúl J. Martín-Palma, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 9797, 97970B · © 2016 SPIE · CCC code: 0277-786X/16/$18 · doi: 10.1117/12.2222038 Proc. of SPIE Vol. 9797 97970B-1 Downloaded From: http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 04/17/2016 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx