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Development of new composite materials for bone tissue engineering is a constantly growing field of medicine. Therefore there is a continuous need in creating novel materials that can not only regenerate the defected tissue but also nourish it while the healing process progresses. Here we present a novel type of composite material that fulfils these requirements. The study describes creation of a composite with macroporous bioceramic core that is infiltrated with a thin biopolymer layer. The ceramic component, namely tricalcium phosphate (TCP), due to its mechanistic and bioactive properties may promote new bone creation as shown through the in vitro studies. To the best of our knowledge the coating layer was created for the first time from a representative of bacterially derived medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers (mcl-PHA), namely polyhydroxyoctanoate (PHO). This polymer layer not only profoundly changed the stress-strain characteristics of the bioceramic foam but also released (R)-3-hydroxyacids and their dimers/trimers to the investigated environment. In the manuscript we have in depth characterised these materials employing a set of basic procedures, through 3D structure reconstruction and finishing with prolonged in vitro experiments. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The aim of this study was to analyze the root canal morphology of maxillary third molars (MTMs) using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Materials and methods Seventy-eight consecutively-extracted human MTMs were scanned using micro-CT (spatial resolution = 13.68 μm per pixel). Dedicated software (SkyScan ® ) was used to create virtual reconstructions and perform 3D-analysis. A range of anatomical features were assessed; externally (root number, length, fusion, curvature, apex), within the pulp chamber (distance between canal orifices, floor thickness) and within the root canal system (root canal number, classification, ramifications, isthmuses, apical constriction). Results The donor age ranged from 19 to 73 years (mean ± SD 32.3 ± 16.5 years). MTMs possessed one or three roots, which principally curved buccally/palatally (75.9%), had 1–4 root canals and typically no apical constriction (84.4%). The average external root length was 11.89 ± 1.53 mm, while root canal length was 10.18 ± 0.35 mm. The root canal diameter 1 mm from the apex was 0.37 ± 0.23 mm and negatively correlated with donor’s age (r = −0.76; p = 0.01), while pulp chamber thickness positively correlated with age (r = 0.58; p = 0.035). Significantly, furcation canals, canal loops and root canal calcifications were sporadic findings. Conclusions In some cases the anatomy of MTMs may not be as complicated as previously documented, being similar to the reported anatomy of other maxillary molars. During root canal treatment of MTMs, the frequent deviation of the apical foramen from the radiographic apex should be considered, as should the absence of an apical constriction in the majority of cases. In addition, buccal/palatal root curvature, often undiagnosed radiographically, is the most common root curvature in MTMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 3D spheroids visualization by micro-CT. • Two different cell lines: malignant (WM266-4) and primary (WM115) can form spheroids. • Micro-CT provides detailed spheroid morphology. • This approach reduce usage of laboratory animals. Three-dimensional (3D) spheroids mimic important properties of tumors and may soon become a reasonable substitute for animal models and human tissue, eliminating numerous problems related to in vivo and ex vivo experiments and pre-clinical drug trials. Currently, various imaging methods including X-ray microtomography (micro-CT), exist but their spatial resolution is limited. Here, we visualized and provided a morphological analysis of spheroid cell cultures using micro-CT and compared it to that of confocal microscopy. An approach is proposed that can potentially open new diagnostic opportunities to determine the morphology of cancer cells cultured in 3D structures instead of using actual tumors. Spheroids were formed from human melanoma cell lines WM266-4 and WM115 seeded at different cell densities using the hanging drop method. Micro-CT analysis of spheroid showed that spheroid size and shape differed depending on the cell line, initial cell number, and duration of culture. The melanoma cell lines used in this study can successfully be cultured as 3D spheroids and used to substitute human and animal models in pre-clinical studies. The micro-CT allows for high-resolution visualization of the spheroids structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]