Noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technology that enables the characterization of multiple physical phenomena in living and engineered tissues. Mechanical function of engineered tissues is a primary endpoint for the successful regeneration of many biological tissues such as articular cartilage, spine, and heart. Here, we demonstrate the application of MRI to characterize mechanical function of engineered tissue. Phase contrast-based methods were demonstrated to characterize detailed deformation fields throughout the interior of native and engineered tissue using an articular defect model as a study system. MRI techniques revealed that strain fields varied nonuniformly depending on spatial position. Strains were highest in the tissue constructs compared to surrounding native cartilage. Tissue surface geometry corresponded to strain fields observed within the tissue interior near the surface. Strain fields were further evaluated with respect to the spatial variation in concentrations of glycosaminoglycans ([GAG]), critical proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix of cartilage, as determined by gadolinium-enhanced imaging. [GAG] concentration also varied nonuniformly depending on spatial position and was lowest in the tissue constructs compared to the surrounding cartilage. The use of multiple MRI techniques to assess tissue mechanical function provide complementary data and suggest that deformation is related to tissue geometry, underlying extracellular matrix constituents, and the lack of tissue integration in the model system studied. Specialized and advance MRI phase contrast-based methods are valuable for the detailed characterization and evaluation of mechanical function of tissue engineered constructs.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.