X-ray contrast-adjustable 3D printing for multimodal fusion of microCT and histology

Phantoms and reference structures are essential tools for calibration and correlative imaging in pre-clinical and research applications of X-ray-based imaging. They serve as reference standards, ensuring consistency and accuracy in imaging results. However, generating individual phantoms often involves a complex creation process, high production costs, and significant time investment.

Conic reference structures were 3D printed using a mixture of UV-curable resin and X-ray contrast agents. These structures were then embedded together with lung specimens of SARS-CoV-2-infected rhesus macaques in a methyl methacrylate-based solution. The polymerized blocks were scanned using propagation-based phase-contrast microCT, a method chosen for its superior ability to enhance contrast, especially in low-absorbing biological samples. Utilizing the conic reference structures, subsequently performed histological sections were co-registered into the 3D context of the microCT datasets.

The produced 3D printed models were highly visible in terms of contrast and detail in both imaging methods, allowing for a precise co-registration of microCT and histological imaging.

The novel methodology of using contrast agents and resin in 3D printing enables the generation of customizable, contrast-specific phantoms and reference structures. These can be straightforwardly segmented from the embedding material, significantly simplifying and enhancing the workflow of multimodal imaging processes. In this study, 3D printed conic reference structures were effectively used to automate and streamline the precise multimodal fusion of microCT and histological imaging.