Technical aspects of Zn microanalysis of human prostate cancer tissues and cells

Zinc is a trace element that is being considered as a possible marker of human prostate cancer. Investigation of local distribution and chemical speciation of metals on such low concentration levels that are characteristic for biological material requires sophisticated experimental methods. Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) offers unique opportunities regarding bioimaging on cellular level, while X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques such as X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) or extended absorption fine structure (EXAFS) enable the determination of oxidation state and the description of the local structure of a specific element.Using these techniques, several prostate cancer tissues as well as cells were analyzed.Microscale imaging and spectroscopy were applied to multiple zinc analysis that demanded a careful sample preparation and reliable experimental conditions. Technical aspects of zinc microanalysis of human prostate cancer tissues and cells carried out at the microXAS beamline, Swiss Light Source at Paul Scherrer Institute (Villigen, Switzerland) are presented in this paper.