title: Non-invasive and Non-destructive Characterization of Tissue Engineered Constructs Using Ultrasound Imaging Technologies: A Review.
abstract: With the rapid expansion of biomaterial development and coupled efforts to translate such advances toward the clinic, non-invasive and non-destructive imaging tools to evaluate implants in situ in a timely manner are critically needed. The required multi-level information is comprehensive, including structural, mechanical, and biological changes such as scaffold degradation, mechanical strength, cell infiltration, extracellular matrix formation and vascularization to name a few. With its inherent advantages of non-invasiveness and non-destructiveness, ultrasound imaging can be an ideal tool for both preclinical and clinical uses. In this review, currently available ultrasound imaging technologies that have been applied in vitro and in vivo for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are discussed and some new emerging ultrasound technologies and multi-modality approaches utilizing ultrasound are introduced.
authors.affiliation: Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. kangkim@upmc.edu.|Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. kangkim@upmc.edu.|Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. kangkim@upmc.edu.|McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA. kangkim@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.|Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.|McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Multi-modality; Nondestructive; Noninvasive; Regeneration; Tissue scaffolds; Ultrasound imaging