Real Time Multidimensional Spectroscopic Assessment of Tissue Viability

The objective of Phase I is the preliminary design, prototype and testing of a 3D spectral imaging system for the characterization and evaluation of viability of engineered tissue for treating war injuries. The purpose is in ensuring tissue viability, maturity, vascularity to know if a construct is ready for transplantation. The hardware will consist of a widefield microscope with 3D optical sectioning, lateral scanning for large constructs, and a spectrally programmable light source. Software algorithms will produce the spectral images, deconvolve them to eliminate out-of-focus blur, and align and seam adjacent 3D fields. For characterization and monitoring, algorithms will analyze the vascularization, cell proliferation, motility, spectra and other measures. The system will be for live imaging so it will use no dyes and will utilize endogenous contrast-producing optical characteristics of the construct. Testbed tissue-engineering applications include the development of (1), 3D scaffolds, (2), microvascular network formation in regenerative tissue, and (3), several clinically functional tissue types. Phase I will demonstrate the prototype to show that 3D spectral images can be produced with a testbed sample - most notably the scaffolds with microvascularization. Phase II will embed the proposed system within the study and development of these three construct types.