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Nuclear microscopy: A tool for imaging elemental distribution and percutaneous absorption in vivo
Author(s) -
Veríssimo Ana,
Alves Luís C.,
Filipe Paulo,
Silva JoãO N.,
Silva Raquel,
Dolores YNSA Maria,
Gontier Etienne,
Moretto Philippe,
Pallon Jan,
Pinheiro Teresa
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20402
Subject(s) - dermis , microscopy , elemental analysis , human skin , materials science , in vivo , resolution (logic) , chemistry , biomedical engineering , pathology , biology , anatomy , medicine , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry , artificial intelligence , computer science
Nuclear microscopy is a technique based on a focused beam of accelerated particles that has the ability of imaging the morphology of the tissue in vivo and of producing the correspondent elemental maps, whether in major, minor, or trace concentrations. These characteristics constitute a strong advantage in studying the morphology of human skin, its elemental distributions and the permeation mechanisms of chemical compounds. In this study, nuclear microscopy techniques such as scanning transmission ion microscopy and particle induced X‐ray emission were applied simultaneously, to cryopreserved human skin samples with the purpose of obtaining high‐resolution images of cells and tissue morphology. In addition, quantitative elemental profiling and mapping of phosphorus, calcium, chlorine, and potassium in skin cross‐sections were obtained. This procedure accurately distinguishes the epidermal strata and dermis by overlapping in real time the elemental information with density images obtained from the transmitted beam. A validation procedure for elemental distributions in human skin based on differential density of epidermal strata and dermis was established. As demonstrated, this procedure can be used in future studies as a tool for the in vivo examination of trans‐epidermal and ‐dermal delivery of products. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.