X-ray dark-field tomography of fresh biological samples with the grating interferometry

X-ray dark-field imaging can provide insight into the small-angle scattering properties of the image objects. The grating interferometry can offer the attenuation contrast, phase contrast and small-angle scattering contrast simultaneously, in which the small-angle scattering contrast, i.e. the dark-field image, show unique and complementary information to the previously reported attenuation contrast and phase contrast imaging. Here, we report on a significant milestone in dark-field imaging: the X-ray dark-field tomography result of fresh biological samples, i.e. the fresh cherry tomato, with the grating interferometry. Significant advantages are provided by the dark-field tomography over the absorption-based imaging and the phase-contrast imaging in distinguishing the internal structures of the tomato. In consequence, the method provides a new way for nondestructive testing and diagnostic technology in medicine, biology and material science.