1. Methods: a comparative analysis of radiography, microcomputed tomography, and histology for bone tissue engineering.
- Author
-
Hedberg EL, Kroese-Deutman HC, Shih CK, Lemoine JJ, Liebschner MA, Miller MJ, Yasko AW, Crowther RS, Carney DH, Mikos AG, and Jansen JA
- Subjects
- Acrylates chemical synthesis, Acrylates chemistry, Animals, Biocompatible Materials chemical synthesis, Biocompatible Materials chemistry, Bone Regeneration, Bone and Bones cytology, Delayed-Action Preparations pharmacology, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Carriers, Female, Fumarates chemical synthesis, Fumarates chemistry, Glycolates chemistry, Lactic Acid, Microspheres, Molecular Weight, Particle Size, Peptide Fragments chemistry, Peptide Fragments pharmacology, Polyglycolic Acid, Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer, Polymers chemistry, Polypropylenes chemical synthesis, Polypropylenes chemistry, Rabbits, Radius cytology, Radius diagnostic imaging, Radius physiology, Thrombin chemistry, Thrombin pharmacology, Time Factors, Bone and Bones diagnostic imaging, Bone and Bones physiology, Histological Techniques methods, Radiography methods, Tissue Engineering methods, Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods
- Abstract
This study focused on the assessment of radiography, microcomputed tomography, and histology for the evaluation of bone formation in a 15.0-mm defect in the rabbit radius after the implantation of a tissue-engineered construct. Radiography was found to be useful as a noninvasive method for obtaining images of calcified tissue throughout the time course of the experiment. With this method, however, image quality was low, making it difficult to obtain precise information about the location and quantity of the bone formed. Microcomputed tomography was used to create three-dimensional reconstructions of the bone (25-microm resolution). These reconstructions allowed for greater spatial resolution than the radiography, but did not allow for imaging of the implanted scaffold material or the surrounding, nonmineralized tissue. To visualize all materials within the defect area at the cellular level, histology was used. Histological analysis, however, is a destructive technique that did not allow for any further analysis of the samples. Each technique examined here has its own advantages and limitations, but each yields unique information regarding bone regeneration. It is only through the use of all three techniques that complete characterization of the bone growth and tissue/construct responses after implantation in vivo.
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF