title: Advanced Imaging Techniques for Investigation of Acellular Dermal Matrix Biointegration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biointegration, a concept involving a dynamic interplay among three processes-inflammation, cellular infiltration, and angiogenesis-is key to understanding the interaction between acellular dermal matrices and the host. The current standard for evaluating acellular dermal matrix biointegration involves histologic analysis at fixed time points; however, the authors' approach uses advanced imaging techniques to serially assess biointegration in real time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors have adapted two advanced imaging techniques-two-photon microscopy and photoacoustic microscopy-to investigate biointegration in a murine deepithelialized dorsal skin-fold window chamber model, specifically engineered to recapitulate the host microenvironment of acellular dermal matrix-assisted breast reconstruction. Four mice per group were assessed. Two-photon imaging of dual-transgenic mice allows for detection of fluorescently labeled perivascular cells, and macrophage lineage cells. Photoacoustic microscopy noninvasively assesses oxygen and hemoglobin concentration in living tissues, generating high-resolution, three-dimensional mapping of the nascent acellular dermal matrix-associated microvasculature and metabolic consumption of oxygen. These outcomes were corroborated by confirmatory histologic analysis at the terminal time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The acellular dermal matrix/host interface is characterized by robust inflammation (0 to 3 days), increased oxygen consumption and neoangiogenesis in the matrix border zone (10 to 14 days), and vascular and inflammatory cell penetration into the center of the matrix (>21 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data broaden the core knowledge of acellular dermal matrix biology, and serve as a potential template for elucidating the key differences among various commercially available and developmental products to guide the reconstructive surgeon to better select a reconstructive adjunct that meets their specific needs.
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Brent R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: DeGeorge
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Lisa S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Salopek
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pineros-Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Rodeheaver
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Shayn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peirce-Cottler
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cottler
authors.affiliation: Charlottesville, Va.|From the Departments of Plastic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D062088:Acellular Dermis; D000818:Animals; D001686:Biological Phenomena; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques