SIMPoly: A Matlab-Based Image Analysis Tool to Measure Electrospun Polymer Scaffold Fiber Diameter

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Image Analysis

Background:

• Characterizing electrospun polymer scaffolds requires accurate fiber diameter quantification.
• Manual measurement methods are time-consuming and prone to variability.
• Existing semi-automated tools have limitations, necessitating improved solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel, automated image analysis program for precise polymer fiber diameter measurement.
• To enhance the speed and consistency of fiber diameter analysis in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images.
• To provide a reliable tool for researchers working with electrospun polymer scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Development of a Matlab-based image analysis program named SIMPoly (Semiautomated Image Measurements of Polymers).
• Validation using synthetic images with known fiber dimensions to assess accuracy.
• Application of SIMPoly to SEM images of electrospun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) by multiple researchers.
• Comparison of SIMPoly results with DiameterJ and manual ImageJ measurements.

Main Results:

• SIMPoly demonstrated high accuracy when validated with synthetic images.
• The Matlab-based method provided fiber diameter measurements within the expected range for PLGA scaffolds.
• SIMPoly exhibited the least variability in measurements among different researchers compared to DiameterJ and ImageJ.
• The tool ensures quick and consistent fiber diameter quantification.

Conclusions:

• SIMPoly is an effective Matlab-based tool for accurate and consistent measurement of polymer fiber diameters in SEM images.
• The method significantly reduces inter-user variability, enhancing the reliability of scaffold characterization.
• SIMPoly offers a valuable advancement for researchers in materials science and biomedical engineering needing to analyze electrospun materials.