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Measuring Cell Adhesion and Proliferation in Polymer Scaffolds by X-Ray Microcomputed Tomography
Published
Author(s)
Shauna M. Dorsey, Sheng Lin-Gibson, Carl Simon Jr.
Abstract
Statement of Purpose: We have investigated the ability of X-ray microcomputed tomography (CT) to make three-dimensional (3D) measurements of cell adhesion and proliferation in polymeric tissue engineering scaffolds [1]. Standard methods for measuring cell number in scaffolds include fluorescence microscopy and soluble assays for enzymes, protein or DNA. Microscopy yields two-dimensional images of cell distribution but is not quantitative. Confocal microscopy can generate 3D images of cell distribution, but cannot penetrate opaque scaffold struts to image the interior of scaffolds. Soluble assays are quantitative but do not yield images of cell distribution. In contrast, CT generates 3D images, can penetrate deep into the scaffold interior and is quantitative. For these reasons, we have investigated CT for imaging cells in tissue scaffolds.
Dorsey, S.
, Lin-Gibson, S.
and Simon Jr., C.
(2009),
Measuring Cell Adhesion and Proliferation in Polymer Scaffolds by X-Ray Microcomputed Tomography, society for biomaterials annual meeting, San Antonio, TX, US, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=900246
(Accessed October 18, 2025)