title: High contrast microstructural visualization of natural acellular matrices by means of phase-based x-ray tomography.
abstract: Acellular scaffolds obtained via decellularization are a key instrument in regenerative medicine both per se and to drive the development of future-generation synthetic scaffolds that could become available off-the-shelf. In this framework, imaging is key to the understanding of the scaffolds' internal structure as well as their interaction with cells and other organs, including ideally post-implantation. Scaffolds of a wide range of intricate organs (esophagus, lung, liver and small intestine) were imaged with x-ray phase contrast computed tomography (PC-CT). Image quality was sufficiently high to visualize scaffold microarchitecture and to detect major anatomical features, such as the esophageal mucosal-submucosal separation, pulmonary alveoli and intestinal villi. These results are a long-sought step for the field of regenerative medicine; until now, histology and scanning electron microscopy have been the gold standard to study the scaffold structure. However, they are both destructive: hence, they are not suitable for imaging scaffolds prior to transplantation, and have no prospect for post-transplantation use. PC-CT, on the other hand, is non-destructive, 3D and fully quantitative. Importantly, not only do we demonstrate achievement of high image quality at two different synchrotron facilities, but also with commercial x-ray equipment, which makes the method available to any research laboratory.
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charlotte K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.affiliation: University College London, Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maghsoudlou
authors.affiliation: University College London, Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Totonelli
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Diemoz
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endrizzi
authors.affiliation: University of Trieste, Department of Physics, Trieste, 34127, Italy.|Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste, Trieste, 34127, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigon
authors.affiliation: Sincrotrone Trieste SCpA, Basovizza/Trieste, 34012, Italy.
authors.forename: Ralf-Hendrik
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Menk
authors.affiliation: University of Trieste, Department of Physics, Trieste, 34127, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arfelli
authors.affiliation: Sincrotrone Trieste SCpA, Basovizza/Trieste, 34012, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dreossi
authors.affiliation: European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, 38043, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Maximilians University, Department of Physics, Garching, 85748, Germany.|Ludwig Maximilians University, Faculty of Medicine, Grosshadern-Munich, 81377, Germany.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coan
authors.affiliation: European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, 38043, France.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bravin
authors.affiliation: University College London, Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Coppi
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olivo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004947:Esophagus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011817:Rabbits; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017356:Synchrotrons; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*