Local x-ray structure analysis of optically manipulated biological micro-objects

Dan Cojoc, Heinz Amenitsch, Enrico Ferrari, Silvia C. Santucci, Barbara Sartori, Michael Rappolt, Benedetta Marmiroli, Manfred Burghammer, and Christian Riekel
X-ray diffraction using micro- and nanofocused beams is well suited for nanostructure analysis at different sites of a biological micro-object. To conduct in vitro studies without mechanical contact, we developed object manipulation by optical tweezers in a microfluidic cell. Here we report x-ray microdiffraction analysis of a micro-object optically trapped in three dimensions. We revealed the nanostructure of a single starch granule at different points and investigated local radiation damage induced by repeated x-ray exposures at the same position, demonstrating high stability and full control of the granule orientation by multiple optical traps.

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