The BioSAXS laboratory of the ITACA.SB Research Infrastructure, located at the Institute of Crystallography of the National Research Council in Bari, is a state-of-the-art facility for investigating how biological systems and advanced materials are organized across different length scales. The laboratory combines several X-ray scattering techniques, including small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) and scanning SAXS/WAXS microscopy. This unique combination makes it possible to move from the atomic and molecular scale to the nanoscale and, through spatially resolved measurements, to the organization of complex tissues and materials. The facility also integrates size-exclusion chromatography with SAXS (SEC-SAXS), allowing proteins and other macromolecules to be separated and structurally characterized directly in solution. The performance of the laboratory is demonstrated through studies of proteins, micelles, peptide-based fibres and bone tissue, showing how X-ray scattering can provide complementary information on molecular structure, nanoscale organization, crystallinity, orientation and spatial heterogeneity.
Understanding how structure determines function is essential in biology, medicine and materials science. Many biological tissues and advanced materials are hierarchically organized, meaning that their properties emerge from structural features extending from the atomic scale to the nanoscale and beyond. The BioSAXS laboratory makes it possible to investigate these different levels within a single experimental environment, reducing the need to move between different techniques and facilities. Importantly, capabilities that were traditionally associated with large-scale synchrotron facilities are now becoming accessible in a laboratory setting, providing greater flexibility and continuous access for researchers. The scanning SAXS/WAXS approach adds a further dimension by transforming X-ray scattering into a spatially resolved imaging technique, capable of mapping structural variations, orientation and heterogeneity across complex samples. This is particularly relevant for biological tissues, where local changes in collagen organization or mineral structure can be associated with disease or altered function. At the same time, BioSAXS and SEC-SAXS enable proteins and macromolecular complexes to be studied in solution and under conditions closer to their natural environment.
Read more on KudosThe following have contributed to this summary: Cinzia Giannini