title: Image-based three-dimensional analysis to characterize the texture of porous scaffolds.
abstract: The aim of the present study is to characterize the microstructure of composite scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration containing different ratios of chitosan/gelatin blend and bioactive glasses. Starting from realistic 3D models of the scaffolds reconstructed from micro-CT images, the level of heterogeneity of scaffold architecture is evaluated performing a lacunarity analysis. The results demonstrate that the presence of the bioactive glass component affects not only macroscopic features such as porosity, but mainly scaffold microarchitecture giving rise to structural heterogeneity, which could have an impact on the local cell-scaffold interaction and scaffold performances. The adopted approach allows to investigate the scale-dependent pore distribution within the scaffold and the related structural heterogeneity features, providing a comprehensive characterization of the scaffold texture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6339-7189
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Massai
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pennella
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy ; Centre for Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering, Department of Adult Dental Care, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA, UK.
authors.forename: Piergiorgio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3036-6594
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciardelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bignardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Audenino
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Morbiducci
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010012:Osteogenesis; D016062:Porosity; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D048271:Chitosan