3D X-ray micro-computed tomography imaging for the microarchitecture evaluation of porous metallic implants and scaffolds

Yuchuan Liu; Dongyang Xie; Rifeng Zhou; Yuxin Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.micron.2020.102994

3D X-ray micro-computed tomography imaging for the microarchitecture evaluation of porous metallic implants and scaffolds

Micron. 2021 Mar:142:102994. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2020.102994. Epub 2020 Dec 8.

Authors

Yuchuan Liu¹, Dongyang Xie¹, Rifeng Zhou², Yuxin Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ Key Lab of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Engineering Research Center of Industrial Computed Tomography Nondestructive Testing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
² Key Lab of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Engineering Research Center of Industrial Computed Tomography Nondestructive Testing, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China. Electronic address: zhou65112401@cqu.edu.cn.
³ State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China. Electronic address: zhangyuxin@cqu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33341436
DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2020.102994

Abstract

As an advanced microscopy technology with strong sample adaptability and non-destructive three-dimensional (3D) characteristics, X-ray micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) can establish the overall connection between various microarchitecture parameters and accelerate the research process of porous metallic implants and scaffolds. In this review, the Micro-CT based quantitative evaluation methods of microarchitecture and bone formation are investigated. To ensure reliability of the results, the Micro-CT setup is discussed briefly and the essential image processing algorithms are introduced in detail. The significance and limitations of Micro-CT are analyzed in the context of research on porous metallic implants. We also discuss the future development of Micro-CT technology in the field of biological tissue engineering.

Keywords: Bone formation evaluation; Micro-CT imaging; Microarchitecture analysis; Porous metallic implants.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Bone and Bones*
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*
Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
Metals
Porosity
Prostheses and Implants*
Tissue Engineering / methods
Tissue Scaffolds*
X-Ray Microtomography*

Substances

Metals