Below you will find a collection of publications that highlight how Dragonfly contributed to the success of diverse scientific investigations.
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Tailored Sticky Solutions: 3D‑Printed Miconazole Buccal Films for Pediatric Oral Candidiasis
Attaching organic fibers to mineral: The case of the avian eggshell
Researchers from McGill University used Dragonfly to study and quantify how membranous fibers lining the interior of the chicken eggshell – the membrane that you peel off in a hard-boiled egg – integrate and are fixed in place into the hard calcitic shell.
- Imaging techniques used in this study included primarily electron microscopy methods and X-ray microscopy.
- Chicken eggshells have a reciprocal fiber-mineral/mineral-fiber anchoring at the microscale and nanoscale the fibrous organic membrane to the hard calcitic shell.
- A unique fiber-anchoring mechanism involving 'nanospikes' of mineral extending into organic fibers provides a robust attachment of the membrane to the shell.
- Cryogenic specimen preparation is an essential means to prevent structural and compositional change in avian eggshells.
- The work is published in the scientific journal iScience.
Cell-induced collagen alignment in a 3D in vitro culture during extracellular matrix production
Researchers studied bone extracellular matrix organization using a 3D cell culture model with live fluorescence imaging and volume electron microscopy. They found that osteoblasts organize the collagen matrix into tunnel-like structures with aligned collagen, independently of osteoclast activity. This enhances the understanding of cell-matrix interactions in early bone development.
- New insights into bone extracellular matrix organization in a 3D cell culture system.
- Utilized live fluorescence imaging and volume electron microscopy.
- Osteoblasts organize collagen into tunnel-like structures with aligned collagen.
- The work is published in Journal of Structural Biology
Multiscale Mineralization in the Leopard Gecko Eggshell
Diverse 3D mineral motifs in reptilian eggshells
Researchers from McGill University used Dragonfly to characterize the complex multiscale interactions between organic (fibers) and inorganic (mineral) components in eggshells of the common leopard gecko.
- Imaging techniques used include SEM, TEM, FIB-SEM, XRM, EDX, EBSD, AFM, and light microscopy.
- The gecko eggshells have sparse mineral patterning into scutes and/or rosettes that allows for a semi-rigid but flexible structure.
- Cryogenic specimen preparation provides an essential means to prevent structural and compositional change in mineralized biological structures.
- The work is published in Advanced Functional Materials.
Light and electron microscopy continuum-resolution imaging of 3D cell cultures and image analysis using Dragonfly.
In this study, researchers used Dragonfly to understand the complex cellular sociology in 3D cancer organoids by analysing multimodal and multi-scale imaging.
- 3D cell culture was performed in a single carrier amenable to multi-scale imaging that traverses millimeter scale live-cell light microscopy to nanometer-scale volume electron microscopy.
- Dragonfly was used to train deep-learning automatic image segmentation to infer quantitative information that allowed analysis of subcellular structures in colorectal cancer organoids.
- Dragonfly was used for 3D rendering of segmented subcellular structures helping to identify local organization of diffraction-limited cell junctions in compact and polarized epithelia.
Non-destructive multi-scale imaging of batteries
In this study, researchers from Research Center on Nanotechnologies Applied to Engineering (CNIS) of Sapienza University of Rome and ENEA Casaccia Research Center used Dragonfly software to segment, characterize, and visualize single components of batteries from their assembled states. In summary:
Early stages of bone mineralization studied at nanoscale
In this work from the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, researchers shed light on early stages of bone mineralization using a variety of nanoscale imaging techniques. Performed at unprecedented resolution, the study provides insights into how mineralization progresses through the extracellular matrix.
3D deep learning mineralogy by data fusion of XRF and XCT
Deep learning was used to segment and classify a range of minerals in a magmatic rock core. Mineral classification was achieved by data fusion of microXRF and X-ray CT, with deep learning segmentation.
Dragonfly used to quantify porosity reduction in additive manufacturing using pulsed laser
This work involved the study of porosity in metal additive manufacturing and its potential reduction by adding an additional pulsed laser into the process. Porosity was quantified in high resolution X-ray microtomography images using Dragonfly and porosity reduction was investigated by changing the process parameters of the pulsed laser. In summary:
Lithium ion battery study using Dragonfly
Lithium ion batteries were studied non-destructively using X-ray microscopy of the same cells before and after a full discharge. Despite X-ray imaging challenges, the transport of lithium was mapped to provide evidence of current constriction, a key parameter in lithium ion battery quality and its effective lifetime. In summary:
Diffraction contrast tomography for powder crystallographic characterization
In this work, the authors demonstrated the first diffraction contrast tomography of polycrystalline powders using a laboratory system. The method is useful for characterization of powders relevant to pharmaceutical production and fine chemicals industries and the work demonstrates the combined analysis of such powders using diffraction contrast and absorption contrast tomography. In summary:
Correlative analytical and microscopic study of Icelandic soils
In this work, researchers used the Dragonfly software platform to study Icelandic soils using images and data acquired using a variety of hardware tools across multiple length scales. In summary:
Researchers investigate ancient shark egg cases
In this interesting study from the Swedish Museum of Natural History, ancient shark egg cases from the early Jurassic period were studied using X-ray microCT. The non-destructive imaging aspect was crucial to make this study possible as the fragile specimens were partially embedded in rock. Segmentation is usually quite challenging in this type of image data, but no problem for Dragonfly. In summary:
Sheffield tomography facility publishes first paper
The newly established Sheffield Tomography Centre (STC) at the University of Sheffield recently published their first paper from data generated at the facility. This paper involves an investigation of cutting damage in carbon fibre reinforced composites; Dragonfly was used for visualization and evaluation of this damage.
X-ray microscopy for plants across multiple resolution scales
Summary of this spotlight:
Additively manufactured lattice structure surface morphology evaluation
In this study, researchers used Dragonfly software to study the surface morphology of single lattice struts built by additive manufacturing in stainless steel (metal 3D printing). The summary of the work:
Nature paper: Dragonfly used to unveil the earliest Bryozoa fossil
In this spotlight, researchers used Dragonfly in work reported in the journal Nature. In this noteworthy scientific discovery:
Two heads are not always better than one - two-faced and double-headed sea turtle morphology evaluation
Researchers from the Florida Atlantic University recently published an interesting study of the malformation of sea turtle embryos and hatchlings found on south Florida beaches. As described in the Journal of Anatomy publication…
Researchers collaborated to study battery degradation under fast charging using advanced imaging and deep learning techniques.
- High resolution microCT imaging observed battery microstructure during fast charging and discharging.
- Dragonfly deep learning models automatically segmented hundreds of electrode layers, revealing void formation and delamination risks.
- Dragonfly distance mapping enabled direct characterization of electrode dilation.