Three-dimensional visualisation of soft biological structures by X-ray computed micro-tomography.
Whereas the two-dimensional (2D) visualisation of biological samples is routine, three-dimensional (3D) imaging remains a time-consuming and relatively specialised pursuit. Current commonly adopted techniques for characterising the 3D structure of non-calcified tissues and biomaterials include optical and electron microscopy of serial sections and sectioned block faces, and the visualisation of intact samples by confocal microscopy or electron tomography. As an alternative to these approaches, X-ray computed micro-tomography (microCT) can both rapidly image the internal 3D structure of macroscopic volumes at sub-micron resolutions and visualise dynamic changes in living tissues at a microsecond scale. In this Commentary, we discuss the history and current capabilities of microCT. To that end, we present four case studies to illustrate the ability of microCT to visualise and quantify: (1) pressure-induced changes in the internal structure of unstained rat arteries, (2) the differential morphology of stained collagen fascicles in tendon and ligament, (3) the development of Vanessa cardui chrysalises, and (4) the distribution of cells within a tissue-engineering construct. Future developments in detector design and the use of synchrotron X-ray sources might enable real-time 3D imaging of dynamically remodelling biological samples.
School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK School of Mathematics, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Tom
0000-0001-7536-5547
T
Shearer
Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Robert S
RS
Bradley
School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UK.
L Araida
LA
Hidalgo-Bastida
Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK michael.sherratt@manchester.ac.uk sarah.cartmell@manchester.ac.uk.
Michael J
0000-0003-4759-6617
MJ
Sherratt
School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK michael.sherratt@manchester.ac.uk sarah.cartmell@manchester.ac.uk.
Sarah H
SH
Cartmell
D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D017356:Synchrotrons; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003094:Collagen
Arteries; MicroCT; Tendon; Tissue engineering; Tomography; X-ray