Imaging system for live 3D tissue engineered constructs

我们需要一个光学深层组织成像系统来成像人体规模的组织工程结构。所提出的成像模块包括一个荧光分子断层扫描系统，能够对厘米尺度的活组织进行3D近红外（NIR）荧光成像。这项技术将使我们能够监测含有活细胞的厘米级组织中的细胞健康和功能。我们和麦吉尔大学的其他人目前正在通过活细胞3D打印（生物打印）等技术制造毫米到厘米厚度的组织。在这种情况下，大多数组织必须血管化，以避免缺氧和缺氧细胞死亡。提出的组织成像系统将允许我们通过光学探针（如染料）监测组织健康和性能，这些探针可以感知或响应代谢活动或局部氧张力。此外，表达近红外荧光报告蛋白的细胞系将用于监测细胞数量、活力和功能。该系统将配备输注泵、气体流量控制器和温度控制系统，以便对灌注的活组织进行实时监测。通过控制气体混合物、培养基灌注率*和温度，我们将能够评估这些参数对氧分布和组织性能的影响。该系统与我们现有的微加工、组织工程和生物打印能力相结合，将创建一个完整的组织结构制造和监测平台。该系统将非常类似于用于小动物成像的仪器，但将专门设计用于组织工程结构的成像。该系统将补充以显微镜为基础的系统，使麦吉尔大学现有的高分辨率、低穿透性光学成像以及医学成像模式（如x射线、超声波、磁共振成像和核成像技术）成为可能。来自麦吉尔大学实验室（超过50名学员）、合作伙伴实验室、麦吉尔大学其他研究人员以及省级（加拿大生物材料学会、干细胞网络）的学员将可以使用这个共享设施

We are requesting an optical deep tissue*imaging system to image human-scale tissue engineered constructs. The proposed imaging module consists of a fluorescence*molecular tomography system enabling 3D near infrared (NIR) fluorescence*imaging of cm-scale live tissue. This technology will allow us to monitor cell*health and function in cm-scale tissues containing living cells. We and others*at McGill are currently engineering tissues of mm to cm thickness via techniques*such as live cell 3D printing (bioprinting). At this scale, most tissues must be vascularized to*avoid oxygen deprivation and hypoxic cell death. The proposed tissue imaging*system will allow us to monitor tissue health and performance through optical probes such as dyes that sense or respond to metabolic activity or local oxygen tension. Moreover, cell lines expressing NIR fluorescent reporter proteins will be used to monitor cell number, viability and function. The system will be equipped with an infusion*pump, gas flow controllers and a temperature control system to enable real-time*monitoring of perfused living tissues. By controlling the gas mixture, the culture medium perfusion rate*and the temperature, we will be able to assess the effects of these parameters on oxgen profiles and tissue performance. The combination of this system with our existing microfabrication, tissue engineering and bioprinting capabilities will create a complete tissue construct fabrication and monitoring platform. The system will be very similar to*instruments used for small animal imaging, but will be designed specifically to image tissue engineered constructs. The system will*complement microscopy-based systems that enable higher-resolution lower*penetration optical imaging, as well as medical imaging modalities (e.g. X-ray,*ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear imaging techniques)*available at McGill. Trainees from our laboratories (over 50 trainees), from the laboratories of collaborators, from other researchers at McGill as well as provincial (ThéCell, Québec Center for Advanced Materials, PROTEO) and Canadian research networks (Canadian Biomaterials Society, Stem Cell Network) will have access to this shared facility.**