Nanoscale virus imaging X-ray microscope based on incoherent diffraction

Introduction

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that emerged in late 2019. By March 2020, the outbreak was declared a devastating pandemic and clearly illustrated the threat that viruses pose to our society.

Importance of Viral Characterization

The characterization of viral structures and the identification of key proteins involved in each step of the cycle of infection are crucial to developing treatments. Yet, imaging single viruses can only be performed in a few specialized centers in Europe, while every hospital could benefit from it.

Project Proposal

NanoXCAN proposes to develop a tabletop virus imaging X-ray microscope, with foreseeable impact as revolutionary as the invention of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy. This project aims to pave the way towards the determination of structure and dynamics of matter for a large community.

Technical Development

For this purpose, we will develop an original digital laser that delivers, on a daily operation:

1. Subwavelength focusing
2. Relativistic intensities at MHz repetition rates

This will be used to create a nano-source of hard X-rays from the K-alpha plasma emission of metallic nano-targets at an average power comparable to that of a synchrotron beamline.

Nanoscale Biomedical Imaging

We will capitalize on this high brilliance, high average power hard X-ray source to perform lensless nanoscale biomedical imaging based on recent findings in incoherent imaging and machine learning.

Unique Nanoscopy Platform

All these ingredients will create a unique nanoscopy platform that our consortium will illustrate by imaging a single virus.

Future Implications

In the future, our X-ray IDI microscope could help to study mechanisms involved in viral infection and antiviral design. X-rays have the advantage of performing in-situ non-destructive and non-invasive imaging over competing techniques.

Societal Impact

NanoXCAN will create a transformative positive effect on our economy and society by proposing this new technology for single virus imaging.