title: Methods: a comparative analysis of radiography, microcomputed tomography, and histology for bone tissue engineering.
abstract: This study focused on the assessment of radiography, microcomputed tomography, and histology for the evaluation of bone formation in a 15.0-mm defect in the rabbit radius after the implantation of a tissue-engineered construct. Radiography was found to be useful as a noninvasive method for obtaining images of calcified tissue throughout the time course of the experiment. With this method, however, image quality was low, making it difficult to obtain precise information about the location and quantity of the bone formed. Microcomputed tomography was used to create three-dimensional reconstructions of the bone (25-microm resolution). These reconstructions allowed for greater spatial resolution than the radiography, but did not allow for imaging of the implanted scaffold material or the surrounding, nonmineralized tissue. To visualize all materials within the defect area at the cellular level, histology was used. Histological analysis, however, is a destructive technique that did not allow for any further analysis of the samples. Each technique examined here has its own advantages and limitations, but each yields unique information regarding bone regeneration. It is only through the use of all three techniques that complete characterization of the bone growth and tissue/construct responses after implantation in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hedberg
authors.forename: Henriette C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kroese-Deutman
authors.forename: Charles K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Jeremy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.forename: Michael A K
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Liebschner
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Alan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Yasko
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Crowther
authors.forename: Darrell H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: Antonios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mikos
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D005650:Fumarates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D006016:Glycolates / Q000737:chemistry; D006652:Histological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008863:Microspheres; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010316:Particle Size; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography / Q000379:methods*; D011884:Radius / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D013917:Thrombin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005650:Fumarates; D006016:Glycolates; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011108:Polymers; D011126:Polypropylenes; C097850:poly(propylene fumarate); D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C412222:rusalatide acetate; D013917:Thrombin