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Ditton DM, Marchus CR, Bozeman AL, Martes AC, Brumley MR, Schiele NR. Visualization of rat tendon in three dimensions using micro-Computed Tomography. MethodsX 2024; 12:102565. [PMID: 38292310 PMCID: PMC10825692 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Micro-computed tomography (CT) is an X-ray-based imaging modality that produces three-dimensional (3D), high-resolution images of whole-mount tissues, but is typically limited to dense tissues, such as bone. The X-rays readily pass-through tendons, rendering them transparent. Contrast-enhancing chemical stains have been explored, but their use to improve contrast in different tendon types and across developmental stages for micro-CT imaging has not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, we investigated how phosphotungstic acid (PTA) staining and tissue hydration impacts tendon contrast for micro-CT imaging. We showed that PTA staining increased X-ray absorption of tendon to enhance tissue contrast and obtain 3D micro-CT images of immature (postnatal day 21) and sexually mature (postnatal day 50) rat tendons within the tail and hindlimb. Further, we demonstrated that tissue hydration state following PTA staining significantly impacts soft tissue contrast. Using this method, we also found that tail tendon fascicles appear to cross between fascicle bundles. Ultimately, contrast-enhanced 3D micro-CT imaging will lead to better understanding of tendon structure, and relationships between the bone and soft tissues.•Simple tissue fixation and staining technique enhances soft tissue contrast for tendon visualization using micro-CT.•3D tendon visualization in situ advances understanding of musculoskeletal tissue structure and organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Destinee M. Ditton
- Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr. MS 0904, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Colin R. Marchus
- Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr. MS 0904, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Aimee L. Bozeman
- Psychology, Idaho State University, 921 S 8th Avenue Stop 8087, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA
| | - Alleyna C. Martes
- Psychology, Idaho State University, 921 S 8th Avenue Stop 8087, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA
| | - Michele R. Brumley
- Psychology, Idaho State University, 921 S 8th Avenue Stop 8087, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA
| | - Nathan R. Schiele
- Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr. MS 0904, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
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2
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Doost A, Arnolda L. Iodine staining outperforms phosphotungstic acid in high-resolution micro-CT scanning of post-natal mice cardiac structures. J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2021; 8:027001. [PMID: 33778096 DOI: 10.1117/1.jmi.8.2.027001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scan provides high-resolution three-dimensional images of mineralized tissues in small animal models. Contrast enhancement is essential to visualize non-mineralized tissues with micro-CT scan. We attempted to compare the two most common contrast agents to stain and image mouse cardiac structures. Approach: Ex-vivo micro-CT scan images of the mouse hearts were obtained following staining by potassium iodide or phosphotungstic acid (PTA). PTA-stained samples were imaged after various durations following staining (14 days, 25 days, 187 days, and 780 days), whereas iodine-stained samples were imaged after 72 hours. We compared median staining intensity between PTA and iodine at 0.1-mm intervals from the edge using the Mann Whitney test with correction for multiple comparisons. Results: Sixty post-natal mice hearts were stained with either PTA or iodine and imaged using micro-CT scan. Iodine proved to be faster and more uniform in complete enhancement of cardiac tissue in as short as 72 h, whereas PTA required a significantly longer time period to penetrate mouse cardiac structure ( > 150 days ). Median staining intensity with iodine was strongly higher than that with PTA from 0.1- to 1.5-mm distance from the epicardial edge (2-tailed P value < 0.01 or lower throughout). Conclusions: Iodine-stained soft tissue imaging by micro-CT scan provides a non-destructive, efficient, and accurate visualization tool for anatomical analysis of animal heart models of human cardiovascular conditions. Iodine is more efficient compared to PTA to achieve complete murine myocardial staining in a significantly shorter time period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ata Doost
- Australian National University Medical School, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Fiona Stanley Hospital, Cardiology Department, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Leonard Arnolda
- Australian National University Medical School, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,University of Wollongong, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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3
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Nasello G, Vautrin A, Pitocchi J, Wesseling M, Kuiper JH, Pérez MÁ, García-Aznar JM. Mechano-driven regeneration predicts response variations in large animal model based on scaffold implantation site and individual mechano-sensitivity. Bone 2021; 144:115769. [PMID: 33276152 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2020.115769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
It is well founded that the mechanical environment may regulate bone regeneration in orthopedic applications. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical contributions of the scaffold and the host to bone regeneration, in terms of subject specificity, implantation site and sensitivity to the mechanical environment. Using a computational approach to model mechano-driven regeneration, bone ingrowth in porous titanium scaffolds was simulated in the distal femur and proximal tibia of three goats and compared to experimental results. The results showed that bone ingrowth shifted from a homogeneous distribution pattern, when scaffolds were in contact with trabecular bone (max local ingrowth 12.47%), to a localized bone ingrowth when scaffolds were implanted in a diaphyseal location (max local ingrowth 20.64%). The bone formation dynamics revealed an apposition rate of 0.37±0.28%/day in the first three weeks after implantation, followed by limited increase in bone ingrowth until the end of the experiment (12 weeks). According to in vivo data, we identified one animal whose sensitivity to mechanical stimulation was higher than the other two. Moreover, we found that the stimulus initiating bone formation was consistently higher in the femur than in the tibia for all the individuals. Overall, the dependence of the osteogenic response on the host biomechanics means that, from a mechanical perspective, the regenerative potential depends on both the scaffold and the host environment. Therefore, this work provides insights on how the mechanical conditions of both the recipient and the scaffold contribute to meet patient and location-specific characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Nasello
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antoine Vautrin
- Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Metz, University of Lorraine, Metz, France
| | - Jonathan Pitocchi
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jan Herman Kuiper
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Keele, UK; The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry, UK
| | - María Ángeles Pérez
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Manuel García-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
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4
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de Bournonville S, Vangrunderbeeck S, Ly HGT, Geeroms C, De Borggraeve WM, Parac-Vogt TN, Kerckhofs G. Exploring polyoxometalates as non-destructive staining agents for contrast-enhanced microfocus computed tomography of biological tissues. Acta Biomater 2020; 105:253-262. [PMID: 31996331 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To advance clinical translation of regenerative medicine, there is, amongst others, still need for better insights in tissue development and disease. For this purpose, more precise imaging of the 3D microstructure and spatial interrelationships of the different tissues within organs is crucial. Despite being destructive towards the sample, conventional histology still is the gold standard for structural analysis of biological tissues. It is, however, limited by 2D sections of a 3D object, prohibiting full 3D structural analysis. MicroCT has proven to provide full 3D structural information of mineralized tissues and dense biomaterials. However, the intrinsic low X-ray absorption of soft tissues requires contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs). In a previous study, we showed that hafnium-substituted Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate (Hf-WD POM) allows simultaneous contrast-enhanced microCT (CE-CT) visualization of bone and its marrow vascularization and adiposity. In this study, other POM species have been examined for their potential as soft tissue CESAs. Four Wells-Dawson POMs, differing in structure and overall charge, were used to stain murine long bones and kidneys. Their staining potential and diffusion rate were compared to those of Hf-WD POM and phosphotungstic acid (PTA), a frequently used but destructive CESA. Monolacunary Wells-Dawson POM (Mono-WD POM) showed similar soft tissue enhancement as Hf-WD POM and PTA. Moreover, Mono-WD POM is less destructive, shows a better diffusion than PTA, and its synthesis requires less time and cost than Hf-WD POM. Finally, the solubility of Mono-WD POM was improved by addition of lithium chloride (LiCl) to the staining solution, enhancing further the soft tissue contrast. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: To advance clinical translation of regenerative medicine, there is, amongst others, still need for better insights in tissue development and disease. For this purpose, more precise imaging of the 3D microstructure and spatial interrelationships of the different tissues within organs is crucial. Current standard structural analysis techniques (e.g. 2D histomorphometry), however, do not allow full 3D assessment. Contrast-enhanced X-ray computed tomography has emerged as a powerful 3D structural characterization tool of soft biological tissues. In this study, from a library of Wells Dawson polyoxometalates (WD POMs), we identified monolacunary WD POM together with lithium chloride, dissolved in phosphate buffered saline, as the most suitable contrast-enhancing staining agent solution for different biological tissues without tissue shrinkage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien de Bournonville
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Vangrunderbeeck
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Biomechanics Lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Hong Giang T Ly
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam
| | - Carla Geeroms
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim M De Borggraeve
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tatjana N Parac-Vogt
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Biomechanics Lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; IREC, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Belgium; Department Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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5
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Gil CJ, Tomov ML, Theus AS, Cetnar A, Mahmoudi M, Serpooshan V. In Vivo Tracking of Tissue Engineered Constructs. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:E474. [PMID: 31315207 PMCID: PMC6680880 DOI: 10.3390/mi10070474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
To date, the fields of biomaterials science and tissue engineering have shown great promise in creating bioartificial tissues and organs for use in a variety of regenerative medicine applications. With the emergence of new technologies such as additive biomanufacturing and 3D bioprinting, increasingly complex tissue constructs are being fabricated to fulfill the desired patient-specific requirements. Fundamental to the further advancement of this field is the design and development of imaging modalities that can enable visualization of the bioengineered constructs following implantation, at adequate spatial and temporal resolution and high penetration depths. These in vivo tracking techniques should introduce minimum toxicity, disruption, and destruction to treated tissues, while generating clinically relevant signal-to-noise ratios. This article reviews the imaging techniques that are currently being adopted in both research and clinical studies to track tissue engineering scaffolds in vivo, with special attention to 3D bioprinted tissue constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen J Gil
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Martin L Tomov
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Andrea S Theus
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Alexander Cetnar
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Morteza Mahmoudi
- Precision Health Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Vahid Serpooshan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA.
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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6
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Kaiser NJ, Kant RJ, Minor AJ, Coulombe KLK. Optimizing Blended Collagen-Fibrin Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Engineering with Human iPSC-derived Cardiomyocytes. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2018; 5:887-899. [PMID: 30775432 PMCID: PMC6372981 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b01112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Natural
polymer hydrogels are used ubiquitously as scaffold materials
for cardiac tissue engineering as well as for soft tissue engineering
more broadly because of FDA approval, minimal immunogenicity, and
well-defined physiological clearance pathways. However, the relationships
between natural polymer hydrogels and resident cell populations in
directing the development of engineered tissues are poorly defined.
This interaction is of particular concern for tissues prepared
with iPSC-derived cell populations, in which population purity and
batch-to-batch variability become additional critical factors to consider.
Herein, the design space for a blended fibrin and collagen scaffold
is characterized for applications in creating engineered myocardium
with human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Stiffness values of the acellular
hydrogel formulations approach those of native myocardium in compression,
but deviate significantly in tension when compared to rat myocardium
in both transverse and longitudinal fiber orientations. A response
surface methodology approach to understanding the relationship between
collagen concentration, fibrin concentration, seeding density, and
cardiac purity found a statistically significant predictive model
across three repeated studies that confirms that all of these factors
contribute to tissue compaction. In these constructs, increased fibrin
concentration and seeding density were each associated with increased
compaction, while increased collagen concentration was associated
with decreased compaction. Both the lowest (24.4% cTnT+) and highest (60.2% cTnT+) cardiomyocyte purities evaluated
were associated with decreased compaction, whereas the greatest compaction
was predicted to occur in constructs prepared with a 40–50%
cTnT+ population. Constructs prepared with purified cardiomyocytes
(≥75.5% cTnT+) compacted and formed syncytia well,
although increased fibrin concentration in these groups was associated
with decreased compaction, a reversal of the trend observed in unpurified
cardiomyocytes. This study demonstrates an analytical approach to
understanding cell–scaffold interactions in engineered tissues
and provides a foundation for the development of more sophisticated
and customized scaffold platforms for human cardiac tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Kaiser
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Rajeev J Kant
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Alicia J Minor
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Kareen L K Coulombe
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
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7
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Kerckhofs G, Stegen S, van Gastel N, Sap A, Falgayrac G, Penel G, Durand M, Luyten FP, Geris L, Vandamme K, Parac-Vogt T, Carmeliet G. Simultaneous three-dimensional visualization of mineralized and soft skeletal tissues by a novel microCT contrast agent with polyoxometalate structure. Biomaterials 2018; 159:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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8
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Mehrian M, Guyot Y, Papantoniou I, Olofsson S, Sonnaert M, Misener R, Geris L. Maximizing neotissue growth kinetics in a perfusion bioreactor: An in silico strategy using model reduction and Bayesian optimization. Biotechnol Bioeng 2017; 115:617-629. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.26500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mehrian
- Biomechanics Research Unit; GIGA In Silico Medicine; University of Liège; Liège Belgium
- Prometheus; The Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
| | - Yann Guyot
- Biomechanics Research Unit; GIGA In Silico Medicine; University of Liège; Liège Belgium
- Prometheus; The Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
| | - Ioannis Papantoniou
- Prometheus; The Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
| | - Simon Olofsson
- Department of Computing; Imperial College London; London United Kingdom
| | - Maarten Sonnaert
- Prometheus; The Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
- Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
| | - Ruth Misener
- Department of Computing; Imperial College London; London United Kingdom
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Research Unit; GIGA In Silico Medicine; University of Liège; Liège Belgium
- Prometheus; The Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
- Biomechanics Section; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
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9
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Chai YC, Bolander J, Papantoniou I, Patterson J, Vleugels J, Schrooten J, Luyten FP. Harnessing the Osteogenicity of In Vitro Stem Cell-Derived Mineralized Extracellular Matrix as 3D Biotemplate to Guide Bone Regeneration. Tissue Eng Part A 2017; 23:874-890. [DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2016.0432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yoke Chin Chai
- Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johanna Bolander
- Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ioannis Papantoniou
- Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jennifer Patterson
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jef Vleugels
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Schrooten
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank P. Luyten
- Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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