Validation of the X-ray microtomography in the assessment of duodenal morphometry and surface area in celiac disease.

Background: Duodenal histology remains the diagnostic reference standard in celiac disease. However, traditional methods have suboptimal sensitivity and reproducibility for early mucosal changes and research purposes. We validated a recently introduced micro-CT imaging method for an accurate digital evaluation of duodenal histomorphometry and mucosal surface areas.

A tube-source X-ray microtomography approach for quantitative 3D microscopy of optically challenging cell-cultured samples.

Development and study of cell-cultured constructs, such as tissue-engineering scaffolds or organ-on-a-chip platforms require a comprehensive, representative view on the cells inside the used materials. However, common characteristics of biomedical materials, for example, in porous, fibrous, rough-surfaced, and composite materials, can severely disturb low-energy imaging. In order to image and quantify cell structures in optically challenging samples, we combined labeling, 3D X-ray imaging, and in silico processing into a methodological pipeline.

X-ray microtomography is a novel method for accurate evaluation of small-bowel mucosal morphology and surface area.

The often poorly orientated small-bowel mucosal biopsies taken for the diagnostics of celiac disease and other intestinal disorders are prone to misinterpretation. Furthermore, conventional histopathology has suboptimal sensitivity for early histopathological changes observed in short-term challenge studies. X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) is a promising new method for accurate imaging of human-derived biological samples.

Knitted 3D Scaffolds of Polybutylene Succinate Support Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Growth and Osteogenesis.

Polybutylene succinate (PBS) is a biodegradable polyester with better processability and different mechanical properties compared to polylactides (PLAs), the most commonly used synthetic polymers in tissue engineering (TE). Since only few studies have evaluated PBS-containing materials for bone TE, we prepared PLA-PBS blends and analyzed material properties as well as cell attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on scaffolds. In addition to PLA, PBS, and PLA-PBS blends, PLA-polycaprolactone and PLA-poly(trimethylene carbonate) blends were evaluated.

X-ray microtomography of collagen and polylactide scaffolds in liquids.

Methods to image and assess the microstructure of polymer based biomaterials in liquid phase, for example cell culture medium, are well warranted. X-ray microtomography could provide a mean to visualize and analyze such structures. However, the density of such polymers is close to that of water and hence the X-ray contrast is poor.