Quantitative characterization of developing collagen gels using optical coherence tomography.
Nondestructive optical imaging methods such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been proposed for characterizing engineered tissues such as collagen gels. In our study, OCT was used to image collagen gels with different seeding densities of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), including acellular gels, over a five-day period during which the gels contracted and became turbid with increased optical scattering. The gels were characterized quantitatively by their optical properties, specified by analysis of OCT data using a theoretical model. At 6 h, seeded cell density and scattering coefficient (mu(s)) were correlated, with mu(s) equal to 10.8 cm(-1)(10(6) cells mL). Seeded cell density and the scattering anisotropy (g) were uncorrelated. Over five days, the reflectivity in SMC gels gradually doubled with little change in optical attenuation, which indicated a decrease in g that increased backscatter, but only a small drop in mu(s). At five days, a subpopulation of sites on the gel showed substantially higher reflectivity (approximately a tenfold increase from the first 24 h). In summary, the increased turbidity of SMC gels that develops over time is due to a change in the structure of collagen, which affects g, and not simply due to a change in number density of collagen fibers due to contraction.
Levitz
David
D
Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3303 SW Bond Avenue, Mailcode CH13B, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.
Hinds
Monica T
MT
Choudhury
Niloy
N
Tran
Noi T
NT
Hanson
Stephen R
SR
Jacques
Steven L
SL
D000465:Algorithms; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
D005782:Gels; D003094:Collagen