Journal Article

PUBDB-2026-01138

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Quantitative Stain Mapping in X‐Ray Virtual Histology

John, D. (Corresponding author)Extern*Hereon* ; Paganin, D. M.Extern* ; Zdora, M.-C.Extern* ; Petzold, L. M.Extern* ; Ilg, P. ; Chen, J.Extern* ; Baggio, S.Extern* ; Thalhammer, J. B. ; Wirtensohn, S.Extern*Hereon* ; Moosmann, J.HZG*Hereon* ; Hammel, J. U.HZG*Hereon* ; Beckmann, F.HZG*Hereon* ; Alloo, S. J. ; Ahlers, J. N.Extern* ; Busse, M.Extern* ; Herzen, J.Extern* ; Morgan, K. S.

2026
Wiley-VCH Weinheim

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1002/advs.202519783  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2026-01138

Abstract: Virtual histology using X-ray micro-computed tomography offers 3D tissue visualization, yet lacks the specificity of conventional histology, where targeted stains selectively highlight features like cell nuclei. While X-ray-compatible stains have now been developed, an unsolved challenge is the quantitative separation of their signal from the underlying tissue signal, which is essential for tissue-specific imaging. This work presents the first method enabling 3D stain mapping on a histologically relevant scale. Applied to murine kidneys stained with different hematein-lead complexes, the approach extracts molar contrast agent distributions alongside high-contrast morphology at the micrometer scale and is successfully validated against K-edge subtraction imaging. Moreover, the dual optical-X-ray properties of the stain enable direct spatial correspondence between X-ray-derived concentration maps and conventional optical histology of the same specimen, establishing a bridge between virtual and traditional histology. In summary, the proposed methodology provides tissue-specific virtual histology with objective, quantitative metrics across millimeter to centimeter-sized 3D volumes, opening pathways for immunospecific labeling and automated analysis of disease progression without physical sectioning.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. DOOR-User (DOOR ; HAS-User)
2. Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (Hereon)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G3 - PETRA III (DESY) (POF4-6G3) (POF4-6G3)
2. FS-Proposal: BAG-20240010 (BAG-20240010) (BAG-20240010)
3. FS-Proposal: BAG-20240009 (BAG-20240009) (BAG-20240009)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P05 (PETRA III)
2. PETRA Beamline P07 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Article Processing Charges ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DEAL Wiley ; DOAJ Seal ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF >= 15 ; JCR ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---