3-dimensional imaging and analysis of smooth muscle colonization of porous chitosan scaffolds

• Published in: Proceedings of the First Joint BMES/EMBS Conference : serving humanity advancing technology, Oct. 13-16, 99, Atlanta, GA, USA Vol. 1; pp. 119 vol.1 - 119
• Main Authors: Birla, R., Matthew, H.W.T.
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 1999
• Subjects: Biological materials; Fluorescence; High-resolution imaging; Image analysis; Labeling; Medical imaging; Microscopy; Muscle; Muscles; Optical imaging; Optical microscopy; Porosity; Sliding mode control; Three dimensional displays
• ISBN: 0780356748; 9780780356740; 9780780356757; 0780356756
• ISSN: 1094-687X; 0589-1019; 1558-4615
• DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.1999.802158

Confocal microscopy provides a method by which the interior of a transparent system may be probed by minimally invasive means. In this study the authors examined the use of this technique for three dimensional imaging of the growth of smooth muscle cells (SMC) within a porous chitosan, scaffold. By labeling scaffold material and cells with different fluorophores, confocal imaging could be combined with inexpensive software to provide detailed 3-D views of the spatial relationships between the porous structure and incorporated cells. Quantitative data on cellular volume could be easily obtained together with similar data for the porous material. This dual imaging approach provides a useful technique for studying the dynamics of cell-cell and cell-material interactions as well as material degradation during the scaffold colonization process.