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Parameterizing the Transport Pathways for Cell Invasion in Complex Scaffold Architectures.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Ashworth, Jennifer C 
Mehr, Marco 
Buxton, Paul G 
Best, Serena M 
Cameron, Ruth E 

Abstract

Interconnecting pathways through porous tissue engineering scaffolds play a vital role in determining nutrient supply, cell invasion, and tissue ingrowth. However, the global use of the term "interconnectivity" often fails to describe the transport characteristics of these pathways, giving no clear indication of their potential to support tissue synthesis. This article uses new experimental data to provide a critical analysis of reported methods for the description of scaffold transport pathways, ranging from qualitative image analysis to thorough structural parameterization using X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography. In the collagen scaffolds tested in this study, it was found that the proportion of pore space perceived to be accessible dramatically changed depending on the chosen method of analysis. Measurements of % interconnectivity as defined in this manner varied as a function of direction and connection size, and also showed a dependence on measurement length scale. As an alternative, a method for transport pathway parameterization was investigated, using percolation theory to calculate the diameter of the largest sphere that can travel to infinite distance through a scaffold in a specified direction. As proof of principle, this approach was used to investigate the invasion behavior of primary fibroblasts in response to independent changes in pore wall alignment and pore space accessibility, parameterized using the percolation diameter. The result was that both properties played a distinct role in determining fibroblast invasion efficiency. This example therefore demonstrates the potential of the percolation diameter as a method of transport pathway parameterization, to provide key structural criteria for application-based scaffold design.

Description

Keywords

Achilles Tendon, Animals, Biocompatible Materials, Biological Transport, Cattle, Cell Movement, Cells, Cultured, Collagen, Fibroblasts, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Tissue Engineering, Tissue Scaffolds, X-Ray Microtomography

Journal Title

Tissue Eng Part C Methods

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1937-3384
1937-3392

Volume Title

22

Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Sponsorship
European Research Council (320598)
The authors acknowledge financial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Geistlich Pharma AG and European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant 320598 3D-E. Supporting Research Data according to EPSRC policy may be accessed at https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/252372.
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