Hollow microcapsules for sensing micro-scale flow motion in X-ray imaging method

For synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging of micro-scale biological flows in organisms, the development of a suitable flow-sensing tracer is essential for visualizing opaque flows quantitatively. In order to achieve this development in this study, the techniques employed in three different research fields were integrated namely, X-ray optics for enhancing X-ray concentration, fluid dynamics to satisfy the flow traceability and drug delivery system to fabricate bio-compatible microcapsules. On the front burner, we need a special sensor which can be well observed in X-ray micro-imaging and follow working fluid as well. As a result, bio-compatible micro-scale microcapsule sensors that perform the role of spherical micro lenses were developed. These novel microcapsules exhibit not only much improved contrast enhancement but also better performance as sensor tracers in micro-scale flows, compared to conventional solid particles.