Dataset Information

An Ectopic Imaging Window for Intravital Imaging of Engineered Bone Tissue.

ABSTRACT: Tissue engineering is a promising branch of regenerative medicine, but its clinical application remains limited because thorough knowledge of the in vivo repair processes in these engineered implants is limited. Common techniques to study the different phases of bone repair in mice are destructive and thus not optimal to gain insight into the dynamics of this process. Instead, multiphoton-intravital microscopy (MP-IVM) allows visualization of (sub)cellular processes at high resolution and frequency over extended periods of time when combined with an imaging window that permits optical access to implants in vivo. In this study, we have developed and validated an ectopic imaging window that can be placed over a tissue-engineered construct implanted in mice. This approach did not interfere with the biological processes of bone regeneration taking place in these implants, as evidenced by histological and micro-computed tomography (?CT)-based comparison to control ectopic implants. The ectopic imaging window permitted tracking of individual cells over several days in vivo. Furthermore, the use of fluorescent reporters allowed visualization of the onset of angiogenesis and osteogenesis in these constructs. Taken together, this novel imaging window will facilitate further analysis of the spatiotemporal regulation of cellular processes in bone tissue-engineered implants and provides a powerful tool to enhance the therapeutic potential of bone tissue engineering.

SUBMITTER: Stiers PJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6124161 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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An Ectopic Imaging Window for Intravital Imaging of Engineered Bone Tissue.

Stiers Pieter-Jan PJ van Gastel Nick N Moermans Karen K Stockmans Ingrid I Carmeliet Geert G

JBMR plus 20180131 2

Tissue engineering is a promising branch of regenerative medicine, but its clinical application remains limited because thorough knowledge of the in vivo repair processes in these engineered implants is limited. Common techniques to study the different phases of bone repair in mice are destructive and thus not optimal to gain insight into the dynamics of this process. Instead, multiphoton-intravital microscopy (MP-IVM) allows visualization of (sub)cellular processes at high resolution and freque ...[more]

PMID: 30283894

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Project description:Vascularization is a key challenge in tissue engineering. Three-dimensional structure and microcirculation are two fundamental parameters for evaluating vascularization. Microscopic techniques with cellular level resolution, fast continuous observation, and robust 3D postimage processing are essential for evaluation, but have not been applied previously because of technical difficulties. In this study, we report novel video-rate confocal microscopy and 3D postimage processing techniques to accomplish this goal. In an immune-deficient mouse model, vascularized bone tissue was successfully engineered using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) scaffold. Video-rate (30 FPS) intravital confocal microscopy was applied in vitro and in vivo to visualize the vascular structure in the engineered bone and the microcirculation of the blood cells. Postimage processing was applied to perform 3D image reconstruction, by analyzing microvascular networks and calculating blood cell viscosity. The 3D volume reconstructed images show that the hMSCs served as pericytes stabilizing the microvascular network formed by HUVECs. Using orthogonal imaging reconstruction and transparency adjustment, both the vessel structure and blood cells within the vessel lumen were visualized. Network length, network intersections, and intersection densities were successfully computed using our custom-developed software. Viscosity analysis of the blood cells provided functional evaluation of the microcirculation. These results show that by 8 weeks, the blood vessels in peripheral areas function quite similarly to the host vessels. However, the viscosity drops about fourfold where it is only 0.8 mm away from the host. In summary, we developed novel techniques combining intravital microscopy and 3D image processing to analyze the vascularization in engineered bone. These techniques have broad applicability for evaluating vascularization in other engineered tissues as well.

Dataset Information

An Ectopic Imaging Window for Intravital Imaging of Engineered Bone Tissue.

Publications

An Ectopic Imaging Window for Intravital Imaging of Engineered Bone Tissue.

Similar Datasets

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