Using synchrotron radiation inline phase-contrast imaging computed tomography to visualize three-dimensional printed...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Imaging
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Conventional imaging struggles with weakly absorbing materials like cartilage ECM.
• Polycaprolactone/alginate/cell constructs are crucial for cartilage tissue engineering but difficult to visualize.
• Non-invasive 3D characterization is needed for monitoring construct development.

Purpose of the Study:

• Optimize synchrotron radiation inline phase-contrast imaging computed tomography (SR-inline-PCI-CT) for hybrid cartilage constructs.
• Visualize the components and structural changes in 3D printed PCL/alginate/cell constructs over 42 days.
• Assess extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion using SR-inline-PCI-CT.

Main Methods:

• Histological analysis (Alcian blue, immunofluorescent staining) for GAGs and collagen type II.
• Optimization of SR-inline-PCI-CT by varying sample-to-detector distance (SDD).
• 3D visualization of constructs cultured for 42 days using optimized SR-inline-PCI-CT.

Main Results:

• Progressive secretion of cartilage-specific ECM by ATDC5 cells was observed.
• An SDD of 3 m provided optimal edge-enhancement for visualizing all construct components in solution.
• SR-inline-PCI-CT images revealed structural changes indicative of ECM formation.

Conclusions:

• Optimized SR-inline-PCI-CT enables non-invasive visualization of hybrid cartilage constructs.
• The technique facilitates monitoring of ECM development in tissue engineering scaffolds.
• SR-inline-PCI-CT is a valuable tool for characterizing biomaterial-based tissue constructs.