3D imaging and quantification of the integrin at a single-cell base on a multisignal nanoprobe and synchrotron radiation soft X-ray tomography microscopy

The development of three-dimensional (3D) single-cell imaging and protein quantitative methods can provide more comprehensive information for diagnoses. We report the design and synthesis of a multisignal nanoprobe (AuGd_NC@BSA-CV) for single-cell 3D imaging and quantifying the integrin α_IIbβ₃ using correlated synchrotron radiation soft X-ray tomography microscopy and an iterative tomographic algorithm termed equally sloped tomography for the first time. Moreover, on the basis of the Au or Gd content of our nanoprobe, the number of integrin α_IIbβ₃ on a single cell also can be accurately quantified (1.5 × 10⁷ per cell) via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.