title: Image-based characterization of foamed polymeric tissue scaffolds.
abstract: Tissue scaffolds are integral to many regenerative medicine therapies, providing suitable environments for tissue regeneration. In order to assess their suitability, methods to routinely and reproducibly characterize scaffolds are needed. Scaffold structures are typically complex, and thus their characterization is far from trivial. The work presented in this paper is centred on the application of the principles of scaffold characterization outlined in guidelines developed by ASTM International. Specifically, this work demonstrates the capabilities of different imaging modalities and analysis techniques used to characterize scaffolds fabricated from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) using supercritical carbon dioxide. Three structurally different scaffolds were used. The scaffolds were imaged using: scanning electron microscopy, micro x-ray computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and terahertz pulsed imaging. In each case two-dimensional images were obtained from which scaffold properties were determined using image processing. The findings of this work highlight how the chosen imaging modality and image-processing technique can influence the results of scaffold characterization. It is concluded that in order to obtain useful results from image-based scaffold characterization, an imaging methodology providing sufficient contrast and resolution must be used along with robust image segmentation methods to allow intercomparison of results.
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Hongyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kockenberger
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Howdle
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Shakesheff
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crowe
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005740:Gases; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid