Spatial Distribution

of Copper and Iron in

Cardiac Tissue

Grant Allen

Seminar Outline

Electron Probe Microanalysis

Nuclear Microscopy

Acknowledgements

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Conclusion

Introduction

Introduction

Investigate the spatial distribution of Cu and Fe in cardiac tissue

Analytical techniques:

Cardiac tissue that exhibits marked histological damage may

possess elevated levels of Cu and Fe

Electron probe x-ray microanalysis (EPMA)

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)

Nuclear microscopy (NM)

Correlate topographical features with chemical composition

UHV techniques influence method of sample preparation

Electron Probe Microanalysis

Image courtesy of the Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility at the Department of Materials Engineering – Monash University

Detection limit in the region of 100 ppm

Primary ion beam: 5-20 kV electrons

Lateral resolution of 1 µm

Quantitative

Cryochamber

Specimen maintained at 80 K

Electron Probe Microanalysis

Energy /keV

Nuclear Microscopy

Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) - normalisation

Scanning Transmission Ion Microscopy (STIM) - structural information

Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) - elemental analysis

Secondary electrons – complementary topographical information

Incident beam: 1.0-3.0 MeV H+ or He+

Lateral resolution of between 0.1 and 10 µm

Detection limit: ppb to ppm

Quantitative

UHV chamber

Specimen section freeze dried

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Image courtesy of the Bristol University CVD Diamond Group

Detection limit: ppb to ppm

Primary ion beam: 1-30 KeV 133Cs+

Non-quantitative analysis of biological specimens

Lateral resolution of 1 µm is possible

UHV chamber

Specimen section freeze dried

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Conclusion

Nuclear microscopy: provided the specimen is prepared in an

appropriate manner, determination of the spatial distribution of

metals in biological tissue is possible

Secondary ion mass spectrometry: non-quantitative

Electron probe x-ray microanalysis: insufficient sensitivity

Prof. Garth Cooper (Protemix)

Acknowledgements

Dr Anthony Phillips (Protemix)

Catherine Hobbis (School of Engineering - EPMA)

Dr Marcus Gustafsson (Department of Chemistry - SIMS)

Dr V. John Kennedy (Institute of Geological and Nuclear

Sciences - NM)

Dr Ritchie Sims (Department of Geology - EPMA)