UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Label-free mapping of microstructural organisation in self-aligning cellular collagen hydrogels using image correlation spectroscopy

Sanen, K; Paesen, R; Luyck, S; Phillips, J; Lambrichts, I; Martens, W; Ameloot, M; (2016) Label-free mapping of microstructural organisation in self-aligning cellular collagen hydrogels using image correlation spectroscopy. Acta Biomaterialia , 30 pp. 258-264. 10.1016/j.actbio.2015.10.047. Green open access

[thumbnail of Full text Acta Biomaterialia _ Revised (met figuren).pdf]
Preview
Text
Full text Acta Biomaterialia _ Revised (met figuren).pdf - Accepted Version

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Hydrogels have emerged as promising biomaterials for regenerative medicine. Despite major advances, tissue engineers have faced challenges in studying the complex dynamics of cellmediated hydrogel remodelling. Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy has been a pivotal tool for non-invasive visualization of collagen type I hydrogels. By taking into account the typical polarization SHG effect, we recently proposed an alternative image correlation spectroscopy (ICS) model to quantify characteristics of randomly oriented collagen fibrils. However, fibril alignment is an important feature in many tissues that needs to be monitored for effective assembly of anisotropic tissue constructs. Here we extended our previous approach to include the orientation distribution of fibrils in cellular hydrogels and show the power of this model in two biologically relevant applications. Using a collagen hydrogel contraction assay, we were able to capture cell-induced hydrogel modifications at the microscopic scale and link these to changes in overall gel dimensions over time. After 24 h, the collagen density was about 3 times higher than the initial density, which was of the same order as the decrease in hydrogel area. We also showed that the orientation parameters recovered from our automated ICS model match values obtained from manual measurements. Furthermore, regions axial to cellular processes aligned at least 1.5 times faster compared with adjacent zones. Being able to capture minor temporal and spatial changes in hydrogel density and collagen fibril orientation, we demonstrated the sensitivity of this extended ICS model to deconstruct a complex environment and support its potential for tissue engineering research.

Type: Article
Title: Label-free mapping of microstructural organisation in self-aligning cellular collagen hydrogels using image correlation spectroscopy
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2015.10.047
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2015.10.047
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright Elsevier Ltd 2016. This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Non-derivative 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license allows you to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work for personal and non-commercial use providing author and publisher attribution is clearly stated. Further details about CC BY licenses are available at http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0. Access may be initially restricted by the publisher.
Keywords: Collagen type I hydrogel, second harmonic generation, image correlation spectroscopy, fibril alignment, tissue engineering
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > UCL School of Pharmacy > Pharmacology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1473812
Downloads since deposit
173Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item