Scanning probe recognition microscopy investigation of tissue scaffold properties

Yuan Fan^1,2, Qian Chen¹, Virginia M Ayres¹, Andrew D Baczewski¹, Lalita Udpa², Shiva Kumar²

¹Electronic and Biological Nanostructures Laboratory and ²Non Destructive Evaluation Laboratory, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

Abstract: Scanning probe recognition microscopy is a new scanning probe microscopy technique which enables selective scanning along individual nanofibers within a tissue scaffold. Statistically significant data for multiple properties can be collected by repetitively fine-scanning an identical region of interest. The results of a scanning probe recognition microscopy investigation of the surface roughness and elasticity of a series of tissue scaffolds are presented. Deconvolution and statistical methods were developed and used for data accuracy along curved nanofiber surfaces. Nanofiber features were also independently analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, with results that supported the scanning probe recognition microscopy-based analysis.

Keywords: tissue scaffold, tissue engineering, scanning probe recognition microscopy, regenerative medicine, image processing