Laminar Optical Tomography Applied to Reporter Genes Imaging in Engineered Tissue Constructs

Fluorescence imaging is the main method in assessing tissue engineered constructs. However, with the drive to develop thick engineered constructs, it is imperative to develop new fluorescence based techniques that can image beyond the depth capabilities of current microscopic techniques. Here we report the use of Laminar Optical Tomography (LOT) to image in 3D vascular channels, formed by GFP and mCherry carrier cells, in a thick printed constructs enclosed in a perfusion chamber. Results show the potential of LOT for locating and monitoring transfected cells in thick tissue with spatial accuracy.