High resolution microchemical analysis using soft X-ray lithographic techniques.

Abstract

High resolution X-ray lithographic studies of cells from chick embryo hearts dried by the CO2 critical point method were made with soft X-ray radiation of different wavelengths. A marked difference in the relief replica in polymethyl methacrylate resulting from the differential absorption by the dried cells of carbon K.alpha. [standard wavelength absorption edge] radiation at 4.48 nm and broad band synchrotron radiation with .lambda. [wavelength] > 1.5 nm demonstrates the potential usefulness of the technique in making high resolution (.simeq. 10 nm) chemical identification of cellular constituents.