Image‐guided tissue engineering

Abstract

Replication of anatomic shape is a significant challenge in developing implants for regenerative medicine. This has lead to significant interest in using medical imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography to design tissue engineered constructs. Implementation of medical imaging and computer aided design in combination with technologies for rapid prototyping of living implants enables the generation of highly reproducible constructs with spatial resolution up to 25 μm. In this paper, we review the medical imaging modalities available and a paradigm for choosing a particular imaging technique. We also present fabrication techniques and methodologies for producing cellular engineered constructs. Finally, we comment on future challenges involved with image guided tissue engineering and efforts to generate engineered constructs ready for implantation.

Taking a deep look: modern microscopy technologies to optimize the design and functionality of biocompatible scaffolds for tissue engineering in regenerative medicine

“…Boos et al [39] have used both MRI and CT to image newly formed bone in an arteriovenous loop model in order to assess the volume of neovascularization (figure 1a(i -ii)). The major drawback of both CT and MRI is relatively low resolution (fail to resolve single cells), which limits their biological significance [20]. Another tomography method, OCT, is increasingly being used in imaging of engineered tissue [52].…”

“…It uses nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to differentially image the distribution of water molecules in various tissues by applying strong magnetic fields. This non-invasive technique is able to scan large volumes (organ up to whole-body scans), but it requires additional manual editing of images [20]. MRI provides very good contrast between the different soft tissues [21] which renders it especially useful in imaging brain, muscles, heart, vascularization or cancer.…”

Bone Regeneration Based on Tissue Engineering Conceptions — A 21st Century Perspective

“…Additive manufacturing enables the fabrication of highly structured scaffolds to optimise properties highly relevant in bone tissue engineering (osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, osteogenicity, vascularisation, mechanical and chemical properties) on a micro-and nanometre scale. Using high-resolution medical images of bone pathologies (acquired via CT, µCT, MRI, ultrasound, 3D digital photogrammy and other techniques) (168), we are not only be able to fabricate patient-specific instrumentation (235-237), patient-specific conventional implants (238-242) or allografts (243), but also to realise custom-made tissue engineering constructs (TEC) tailored specifically to the needs of each individual patient and the desired clinical application (168,174,244). We therefore predict that the commencing area of Regenerative Medicine 3.0 will hold a significant leap forward in terms of Personalised Medicine.…”

An Optical Method for Evaluation of Geometric Fidelity for Anatomically Shaped Tissue-Engineered Constructs

“…The feasibility of using medical imaging data to design tissue-engineered constructs has only been investigated very recently. 3,32 Similarly, over the past decade a number of efforts have demonstrated the utility of injection molding 3,11,30,33 and 3D tissue printing 17,20 in fabricating engineered tissues with complex geometry. Despite all this work there is limited information on the geometric accuracy of these techniques and how this geometric accuracy might compare between techniques.…”