Revolutionising Disease Research
Understanding diseases at the cellular level is crucial for modern medicine. Studying the exact molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease leads to more accurate diagnoses and effective therapies.
3D Visualisation
This detailed view is especially valuable when studying how cell structures change during disease progression.
SXT provides 3D structural imaging of whole cells in their near-native environment. This technology:
- Shows cells in their close-to-natural state without destructive preparation
- Doesn’t require dyes or stains that might alter cellular structures
- Preserves the cell’s natural condition during examination
Researchers can clearly visualise both cellular and subcellular structures with high spatial resolution, including:
- Nucleus
- Mitochondria
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- Other important organelles
Biological Research Capabilities of SXT in Disease Research
The SXT-100 delivers unmatched biological insight by enabling researchers to visualise, quantify, and track subcellular changes directly relevant to disease mechanisms and therapeutic impact—through measurement of:
SXT’s ability to image the whole structure of intact cells makes it a perfect imaging modality for imaging the spatial and organisational distribution of organelle, such as mitochondria, ER or chromatin within the full cellular context.
For example, SXT can be used to visualise disrupted mitochondrial networks in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s models, enabling early detection of organelle fragmentation, swelling, or clustering across whole cells—all key indicators of neuronal stress or dysfunction.
SXT enables precise measurement of size, shape, and number of subcellular structure, which are critical for detecting disease-related changes such as mitochondrial fragmentation, nuclear deformation, or lysosomal swelling.
Lysosomal swelling, as an example, is often a result of the accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids inside the lysosomes, which can be an early-warning for lysosomal storage disorder.
SXT’s wide field of view and fast, non-destructive, imaging allow screening of multiple intact cells, making it possible to catch low-frequency events (e.g. mitosis defects, autophagosome formation) without prior targeting.
For example, the formation of double-membraned autophagosomes around damaged organelle often occurs as a stress response in cancer cells but can be very difficult to identify if only imaging a very small portion of the cell.
SXT can track ultrastructural shifts over time or between conditions—ideal for studying how diseases alter cellular organization or how therapies (e.g. small molecules, biologics, nanoparticles) impact intracellular structure.
This is especially beneficial when imaging an unknown condition where the scientist does not know what specifically they are looking for, as when evaluating nanoparticle-induced toxicity in drug delivery research.
Uncovering Cellular Changes in Disease Progression
Soft X-ray imaging technology offers researchers unprecedented views of cellular processes across multiple disease states, all while preserving samples in their near-native condition.
Cancer Research Applications
- Produces detailed 3D images of tumour cells with minimal preparation.
- Reveals cellular structures and biological processes within cancer cells.
- Monitors how cancer cells respond to various treatments and therapies.
Infectious Disease Insights
- Pathogen-Host Interactions: Visualises how pathogens interact with host cells and structures.
- Bacterial Studies: Reveals bacterial invasion, biofilm formation, and cellular damage.
- Viral Research: Observes viral replication and effects on cellular organelles.
- Fungal Analysis: Studies fungal morphology and interactions with host cells.
Neurodegenerative Disease Research
- Captures high-resolution 3D images of protein aggregates in brain tissue.
- Monitors conditions like Alzheimer’s (amyloid plaques) and Parkinson’s (alpha-synuclein).
- Provides non-invasive method to study disease progression and structural changes.
A Versatile Tool across Cellular, Organoid, and Tissue Models
The SXT-100 delivers consistent biological insight across a range of model systems – from simple monolayer cultures to complex tissue environments—making it uniquely suited to disease research at any scale.
SXT’s ability to deliver high-resolution, native-contrast 3D imaging without staining or sectioning (in most cases) allows researchers to apply a consistent imaging strategy across model systems—unlocking insights that are scalable, comparable, and biologically relevant.
2D Whole-Cell Models
Key Advantages:
- Rapid, high-resolution 3D imaging of entire intact cells.
- High-throughput screening for rare events or drug responses.
- Quantitative organelle metrics across large populations.
Organoid Models
Key Advantages:
- Resolves cellular heterogeneity within complex 3D architecture.
- Enables measurement of cell–cell interactions and spatial organisation.
- Detects structural responses to treatment across multiple cell types.
Tissue Models
(cryo-sectioned biopsy samples)
Key Advantages:
- Maintains native microenvironment and multicellular context.
- Visualises disease-induced changes in situ at nanoscale resolution.
- Enables structural mapping of tumour–stroma or immune–host interfaces.
Let’s Connect
Accelerate Discovery with SiriusXT’s Advanced Imaging
Encourage researchers to contact SiriusXT and explore how the SXT-100 can enhance their disease research.
