Nondestructive fluorescence lifetime imaging and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy detect cartilage matrix depletion and correlate with mechanical properties.

Nondestructive fluorescence lifetime imaging and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy detect cartilage matrix depletion and correlate with mechanical properties.
Eur Cell Mater. 2018 Jul 27;36:30-43
Authors: Haudenschild AK, Sherlock BE, Zhou X, Hu JC, Leach JK, Marcu L, Athanasiou KA
Abstract
Tissue engineers utilize a battery of expensive, time-consuming and destructive techniques to assess the composition and function of engineered tissues. A nondestructive solution to monitor tissue maturation would reduce costs and accelerate product development. As a first step toward this goal, two nondestructive, label-free optical techniques, namely multispectral fluorescent lifetime imaging (FLIm) and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TRFS), were investigated for their potential in evaluating the biochemical and mechanical properties of articular cartilage. Enzymatic treatments were utilized to selectively deplete cartilage of either collagen or proteoglycan, to produce a range of matrix compositions. Samples were assessed for their optical properties using a fiber-coupled optical system combining FLIm and TRFS, their biochemical and mechanical properties and by histological staining. Single and multivariable correlations were performed to evaluate relationships among these properties. FLIm- and TRFS-derived measurements are sensitive to changes in cartilage matrix and correlate with mechanical and biochemical assays. Mean fluores...

Source: European Cells and Materials - July 28, 2018 Category: Cytology Tags: Eur Cell Mater Source Type: research