title: Platinum blue staining of cells grown in electrospun scaffolds.
abstract: Fibroblast cells grown in electrospun polymer scaffolds were stained with platinum blue, a heavy metal stain, and imaged using scanning electron microscopy. Good contrast on the cells was achieved compared with samples that were gold sputter coated. The cell morphology could be clearly observed, and the cells could be distinguished from the scaffold fibers. Here we optimized the required concentration of platinum blue for imaging cells grown in scaffolds and show that a higher concentration causes platinum aggregation. Overall, platinum blue is a useful stain for imaging cells because of its enhanced contrast using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the future it would be useful to investigate cell growth and morphology using three-dimensional imaging methods.
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and Bioprocesses Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, State University of Campinas/UNICAMP, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza G
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Millas
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ana Katrina C
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Estandarte
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gurdeep K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Bhella
authors.affiliation: The Electrospinning Company, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McKean
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and Bioprocesses Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, State University of Campinas/UNICAMP, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edison
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ian K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002460:Cell Line; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D010984:Platinum
keywords: cells; electrospinning; platinum blue; scaffold; scanning electron microscopy; sputter coating; staining