Liwei Yan1, Yongze Guo2, Jian Qi3, Qingtang Zhu4, Liqiang Gu5, Canbin Zheng6, Tao Lin7, Yutong Lu8, Zitao Zeng9, Sha Yu10, Shuang Zhu11, Xiang Zhou12, Xi Zhang13, Yunfei Du14, Zhi Yao15, Yao Lu16, Xiaolin Liu17. 1. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: 18646555640@163.com. 2. School of Data and Computer Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Computational Science, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: gzyongze@yeah.net. 3. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: speedsnow@126.com. 4. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: qtzhu@qq.com. 5. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: guliqiang1963@aliyun.com. 6. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: canbin-gz@qq.com. 7. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: lintao-gz@qq.com. 8. National Supercomputer Center in GuangZhou, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: yutong-nscc@qq.com. 9. School of Data and Computer Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Computational Science, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: 33996514@qq.com. 10. School of Data and Computer Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Computational Science, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: 2046215468@qq.com. 11. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: shuangzhugz@outlook.com. 12. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: 110337622@qq.com. 13. National Supercomputer Center in GuangZhou, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: 1004418671@qq.com. 14. National Supercomputer Center in GuangZhou, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: 794712456@qq.com. 15. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: 958964501@qq.com. 16. School of Data and Computer Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Computational Science, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: luyaogz@outlook.com. 17. Department of Microsurgery and Orthopedic Trauma, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, PR China; Center for Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering and Technology Research, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510080, PR China. Electronic address: gzxiaolinliu@hotmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The precise annotation and accurate identification of the topography of fascicles to the end organs are prerequisites for studying human peripheral nerves. NEW METHOD: In this study, we present a feasible imaging method that acquires 3D high-resolution (HR) topography of peripheral nerve fascicles using an iodine and freeze-drying (IFD) micro-computed tomography (microCT) method to greatly increase the contrast of fascicle images. RESULTS: The enhanced microCT imaging method can facilitate the reconstruction of high-contrast HR fascicle images, fascicle segmentation and extraction, feature analysis, and the tracing of fascicle topography to end organs, which define fascicle functions. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The complex intraneural aggregation and distribution of fascicles is typically assessed using histological techniques or MR imaging to acquire coarse axial three-dimensional (3D) maps. However, the disadvantages of histological techniques (static, axial manual registration, and data instability) and MR imaging (low-resolution) limit these applications in reconstructing the topography of nerve fascicles. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, enhanced microCT is a new technique for acquiring 3D intraneural topography of the human peripheral nerve fascicles both to improve our understanding of neurobiological principles and to guide accurate repair in the clinic. Additionally, 3D microstructure data can be used as a biofabrication model, which in turn can be used to fabricate scaffolds to repair long nerve gaps.
BACKGROUND: The precise annotation and accurate identification of the topography of fascicles to the end organs are prerequisites for studying human peripheral nerves. NEW METHOD: In this study, we present a feasible imaging method that acquires 3D high-resolution (HR) topography of peripheral nerve fascicles using an iodine and freeze-drying (IFD) micro-computed tomography (microCT) method to greatly increase the contrast of fascicle images. RESULTS: The enhanced microCT imaging method can facilitate the reconstruction of high-contrast HR fascicle images, fascicle segmentation and extraction, feature analysis, and the tracing of fascicle topography to end organs, which define fascicle functions. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The complex intraneural aggregation and distribution of fascicles is typically assessed using histological techniques or MR imaging to acquire coarse axial three-dimensional (3D) maps. However, the disadvantages of histological techniques (static, axial manual registration, and data instability) and MR imaging (low-resolution) limit these applications in reconstructing the topography of nerve fascicles. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, enhanced microCT is a new technique for acquiring 3D intraneural topography of the human peripheral nerve fascicles both to improve our understanding of neurobiological principles and to guide accurate repair in the clinic. Additionally, 3D microstructure data can be used as a biofabrication model, which in turn can be used to fabricate scaffolds to repair long nerve gaps.
Authors: Chaitanya Kolluru; Ananya Subramaniam; Yehe Liu; Aniruddha Upadhye; Monty Khela; Lindsey Druschel; Farzad Fereidouni; Richard Levenson; Andrew Shoffstall; Michael Jenkins; David L Wilson Journal: Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng Date: 2021-03-05
Authors: Enrico Ravagli; Svetlana Mastitskaya; Nicole Thompson; Francesco Iacoviello; Paul R Shearing; Justin Perkins; Alexander V Gourine; Kirill Aristovich; David Holder Journal: Nat Commun Date: 2020-12-07 Impact factor: 14.919
Authors: Bettina Kronsteiner; Lydia M Zopf; Patrick Heimel; Gunpreet Oberoi; Anne M Kramer; Paul Slezak; Wolfgang J Weninger; Bruno K Podesser; Attila Kiss; Francesco Moscato Journal: Front Cell Dev Biol Date: 2022-09-12