Dynamic, Nondestructive Imaging of a Bioengineered Vascular Graft Endothelium
Figure 5
Imaging penetration depth: comparison of FOB imaging method to Two-photon microscopy.
A) EC-seeded half-vessel scaffolds were imaged with a two-photon microscope in direct-line-of-sight to the lumen. B) Representative image of GFP-ECs in direct-line-of-sight to the vessel lumen. C) The two-photon microscope was then used to image GFP-ECs on the lumen through the wall of vascular scaffolds of varying thicknesses (t = 95, 230 and 520 µm). Images of GFP-ECs on the vessel lumen through a D) 95 µm and E) 230 µm thick scaffold. Although cells were visible through the 95 µm thick scaffold, GFP-ECs could not be resolved through the 230 and 520 µm thick scaffolds. The FOB imaging method, however, was capable of resolving individual GFP-ECs through a ∼510 µm thick scaffold wall (G) and the overall cell distribution of the same region of interest matched very closely to the direct-line-of-sight fluorescence image (F).