Three-dimensional, label-free cell viability measurements in tissue engineering scaffolds using optical coherence...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Tissue Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Tissue engineering relies on 3D scaffolds combined with cells for therapeutic applications.
• Assessing live cell viability within scaffolds is critical for tissue-engineered medical product quality.
• Current methods for cell viability assessment in scaffolds can be invasive or time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, noninvasive, label-free method for assessing cell viability and distribution in 3D scaffolds.
• To utilize 3D optical coherence tomography (OCT) for real-time imaging of cell-laden scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• A noninvasive, label-free 3D optical coherence tomography (OCT) method was developed.
• The method was tested on a polysaccharide hydrogel scaffold seeded with human Jurkat cells.
• Time-series OCT images analyzed speckle pattern changes indicative of live cell refractive index variations.

Main Results:

• OCT imaging rapidly (2.5 minutes) assessed large sample volumes (1 mm³).
• Live cells were distinguished from dead cells and hydrogel by analyzing refractive index-dependent speckle patterns.
• The method accurately quantified live cell counts and mapped their 3D distribution within the scaffold.

Conclusions:

• A novel, rapid, noninvasive OCT method enables reliable assessment of live cell viability and distribution in 3D scaffolds.
• This technique offers a valuable tool for quality control and characterization of tissue-engineered medical products.
• The developed OCT method supports the development and application of advanced cell-based therapies.