Development of a Z-Stack Projection Imaging Protocol for a Nerve Allograft

Peripheral nerve injuries have traditionally been treated with a variety of different surgical procedures, but the use of allografts for these injuries remain to be a largely unexplored concept. As a result, there has yet to be a successful protocol created for imaging cells on the surface of nerve allografts. In this thesis, I developed a z-stack projection imaging protocol for nerve allografts and demonstrated the ability to take clear and focused images of cell retention and proliferation on the surface of the allograft. I also optimized the preparation of the nerve graft to improve cell and connective progenitor cell (CTP) retention rates.