Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Florida , Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2009 Dec;15(4):729-38. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2008.0583.
Two-dimensional micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) slices can be reconstructed into three-dimensional (3D) models that demonstrate capillary beds. This study focused on the acquisition of data necessary to create scaffolding that directly mimics the unique structural patterns of a microvascular tree system. The Microfil vascular contrasting method was compared to the Baston's methylmethacrylate corrosion casting (BMCC) method to determine which provided the most accurate and high-resolution results for 3D micro-CT reconstruction derived from the two-dimensional micro-CT slices of the capillary beds. It was determined that the BMCC, a method traditionally used in the scanning electron microscopic analysis of the microvasculature, was the best method for representing capillary lumina for micro-CT scanning. The removal of tissues from the BMCC cast resulted in samples that eliminated background material, thus increasing the X-ray contrast levels of the CT images. This provided for a more complete and more distinguishable high-resolution image of the represented capillary lumina. Images created with this BMCC method were reconstructed in a stereolithography file format as 3D mesh structure for later importing into computer-aided design (CAD) software. The resulting Bio-CAD, then, can be used to guide the more accurate fabrication of the microvascular scaffolding and then serve as the framework for tissue engineering of microvascular structures. Results from this study clearly indicated that the BMCC method is superior to the Microfil method for accurate and complete high-resolution imaging of capillary beds.
二维 micro-CT（微计算机断层扫描）切片可以重建为三维（3D）模型，以展示毛细血管床。本研究专注于获取必要的数据，以创建直接模仿微血管树系统独特结构模式的支架。比较了 Microfil 血管对比方法和 Baston 的甲基丙烯酸甲酯腐蚀铸造（BMCC）方法，以确定哪种方法为 3D micro-CT 重建提供了最准确和高分辨率的结果，这些结果来自于毛细血管床的二维 micro-CT 切片。结果表明，BMCC 是一种传统上用于扫描电子显微镜分析微血管的方法，是代表 micro-CT 扫描毛细血管腔的最佳方法。从 BMCC 铸造中去除组织会导致样品消除背景材料，从而提高 CT 图像的 X 射线对比度水平。这提供了更完整和更可区分的代表毛细血管腔的高分辨率图像。使用这种 BMCC 方法创建的图像以立体光刻文件格式重建为 3D 网格结构，以便以后导入计算机辅助设计（CAD）软件。生成的 Bio-CAD 然后可用于指导更精确地制造微血管支架，并作为微血管结构组织工程的框架。本研究的结果清楚地表明，BMCC 方法在准确和完整的毛细血管床高分辨率成像方面优于 Microfil 方法。
