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High-Resolution Phase-Contrast Tomography on Human Collagenous Tissues: A Comprehensive Review

Authors :
Michele Furlani
Nicole Riberti
Maria Laura Gatto
Alessandra Giuliani
Source :
Tomography, Vol 9, Iss 6, Pp 2116-2133 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Phase-contrast X-ray imaging is becoming increasingly considered since its first applications, which occurred almost 30 years ago. Particular emphasis was placed on studies that use this technique to investigate soft tissues, which cannot otherwise be investigated at a high resolution and in a three-dimensional manner, using conventional absorption-based settings. Indeed, its consistency and discrimination power in low absorbing samples, unified to being a not destructive analysis, are pushing interests on its utilization from researchers of different specializations, from botany, through zoology, to human physio-pathology research. In this regard, a challenging method for 3D imaging and quantitative analysis of collagenous tissues has spread in recent years: it is based on the unique characteristics of synchrotron radiation phase-contrast microTomography (PhC-microCT). In this review, the focus has been placed on the research based on the exploitation of synchrotron PhC-microCT for the investigation of collagenous tissue physio-pathologies from solely human samples. Collagen tissues’ elasto-mechanic role bonds it to the morphology of the site it is extracted from, which could weaken the results coming from animal experimentations. Encouraging outcomes proved this technique to be suitable to access and quantify human collagenous tissues and persuaded different researchers to approach it. A brief mention was also dedicated to the results obtained on collagenous tissues using new and promising high-resolution phase-contrast tomographic laboratory-based setups, which will certainly represent the real step forward in the diffusion of this relatively young imaging technique.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2379139X and 23791381
Volume :
9
Issue :
6
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Tomography
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.0244b001a52d4cda950dd58cc622552f
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/tomography9060166