Nanotopographies and 3D X-Ray imaging reveal bacterial secrets

Jul 27, 2026

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, the BAMBBI team shows how specialized nanotopographies combat tough Gram-positive bacteria, using cutting-edge 3D X-ray imaging to observe single cells from within. The fact that we are fighting bacteria with surfaces designed at the nanoscale, instead of with traditional antibiotics, represents a major shift in the field.

Nanotopographies and 3D X-Ray imaging reveal bacterial secrets — Bacteria 3D segmentation of B. subtilis incubated on CDHA substrates or in the culture well.

Designing antibacterial surfaces often involves facing a difficult opponent in Gram-positive bacteria. Due to their thick cell walls, these organisms are typically much harder to eliminate using physical nanotopographies compared to Gram-negative ones. To address this challenge, the BAMBBI team has designed advanced nanotopographies with targeted antibacterial effects, by understanding the exact mechanism of said bacteria, which required looking directly inside the bacterial cells while they interacted with the surface.

Traditional microscopy usually shows the exterior of bacteria. By applying 3D X-ray imaging, researchers captured internal cellular behavior attached to the nanotopographies, followed by detailed 3D reconstruction and segmentation. The results revealed clear features of high cellular stress, including the presence of multivesicular bodies, an unusual characteristic rarely observed in bacteria. This offered direct visual evidence of how the nanotopography disrupts normal bacterial physiology.

Another key part of the research involved tracking calcium released by the sample and its impact on the bacteria. Researchers visualized how certain bacteria take in calcium from their surrounding environment. Using advanced X-ray spectroscopy, they estimated the precise concentration of calcium inside individual bacteria. The study achieved micromolar concentration sensitivity inside single cells, demonstrating high resolution for X-ray spectroscopy.

M. Iglesias-Fernandez, A.J. Pérez-Berná, E. Pereiro, M.P. Ginebra, M. Espanol. Synchrotron cryo-soft X-ray microscopy reveals bacterial interactions with nanostructured calcium phosphate substrates. Nat Commun 17, 8626 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-75323-y.