title: Quantitative Ultrasound for Nondestructive Characterization of Engineered Tissues and Biomaterials.
abstract: Non-invasive, non-destructive technologies for imaging and quantitatively monitoring the development of artificial tissues are critical for the advancement of tissue engineering. Current standard techniques for evaluating engineered tissues, including histology, biochemical assays and mechanical testing, are destructive approaches. Ultrasound is emerging as a valuable tool for imaging and quantitatively monitoring the properties of engineered tissues and biomaterials longitudinally during fabrication and post-implantation. Ultrasound techniques are rapid, non-invasive, non-destructive and can be easily integrated into sterile environments necessary for tissue engineering. Furthermore, high-frequency quantitative ultrasound techniques can enable volumetric characterization of the structural, biological, and mechanical properties of engineered tissues during fabrication and post-implantation. This review provides an overview of ultrasound imaging, quantitative ultrasound techniques, and elastography, with representative examples of applications of these ultrasound-based techniques to the field of tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, 310 Goergen Hall, P.O. Box 270168, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA. dalecki@bme.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalecki
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
authors.forename: Karla P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Mercado
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 711, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Denise C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hocking
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: Biomaterials; Elastography; Imaging; Regenerative medicine; Tissue engineering; Ultrasound