Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy of human smooth muscle cells in bioengineered tissue scaffolds
Journal article, 2011

The integration of living, human smooth muscle cells in biosynthesized cellulose scaffolds was monitored by nonlinear microscopy toward contractile artificial blood vessels. Combined coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy was applied for studies of the cell interaction with the biopolymer network. CARS microscopy probing CH(2)-groups at 2845 cm(-1) permitted three-dimensional imaging of the cells with high contrast for lipid-rich intracellular structures. SHG microscopy visualized the fibers of the cellulose scaffold, together with a small signal obtained from the cytoplasmic myosin of the muscle cells. From the overlay images we conclude a close interaction between cells and cellulose fibers. We followed the cell migration into the three-dimensional structure, illustrating that while the cells submerge into the scaffold they extrude filopodia on top of the surface. A comparison between compact and porous scaffolds reveals a migration depth of <10 μm for the former, whereas the porous type shows cells further submerged into the cellulose. Thus, the scaffold architecture determines the degree of cell integration. We conclude that the unique ability of nonlinear microscopy to visualize the three-dimensional composition of living, soft matter makes it an ideal instrument within tissue engineering.

Author

Christian Brackmann

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Molecular Imaging

Maricris Esguerra

University of Gothenburg

Daniel Olausson

University of Gothenburg

Dick Delbro

University of Gothenburg

Alexandra Krettek

University of Gothenburg

Paul Gatenholm

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology

Annika Enejder

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Molecular Imaging

Journal of Biomedical Optics

10833668 (ISSN) 15602281 (eISSN)

Vol. 16 2 021115- 021115

Subject Categories

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES

DOI

10.1117/1.3534782

PubMed

21361678

More information

Latest update

11/22/2019