Layer detection in tissue engineering using an elasticity microscope

The authors have built a 50 MHz elasticity microscope to image tissue stiffness at fine resolution (better than 90 /spl mu/m). Elasticity micrographs are compared to histology from tissue engineered smooth muscle, grown from cultured cells and synthetic matrices. The top layer (100-300 /spl mu/m) develops into new tissue with high cell density. Tissue engineers would be greatly interested in noninvasively monitoring the extent of growth over time. Elasticity micrographs clearly differentiate viable cell layers from the synthetic matrix and necrotic cells. Histological differences between tissue engineered smooth muscle grown on a biodegradable matrix and cultured matrix without seeded cells confirm these results.