Microscopic Methods for the Analysis of Engineered Tissues

Examination of engineered tissues is clearly necessary to evaluate their properties and determine how close they are to those of the original tissue being engineered. Microscopy encompasses a group of techniques that allows the assessment of many parameters, including information on the cells themselves, on their viability, density, proliferation status, morphology, their capacity for protein synthesis, and their cell activity. Microscopy can also be utilized to follow the structure of any scaffold used and to determine whether it is broken down. In addition to examining how the cells interact with it, the scaffold can be examined to establish whether they adhere successfully, which molecules are involved, and whether the cells go on to produce any matrix—and if so, whether it replaces the original scaffold or integrates with it and builds on it.