Scientific Reports (Jul 2017)

3D anatomical and perfusion MRI for longitudinal evaluation of biomaterials for bone regeneration of femoral bone defect in rats

  • Emeline J. Ribot,
  • Clement Tournier,
  • Rachida Aid-Launais,
  • Neha Koonjoo,
  • Hugo Oliveira,
  • Aurelien J. Trotier,
  • Sylvie Rey,
  • Didier Wecker,
  • Didier Letourneur,
  • Joelle Amedee Vilamitjana,
  • Sylvain Miraux

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06258-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) appears as a good surrogate to Computed Tomography (CT) scan as it does not involve radiation. In this context, a 3D anatomical and perfusion MR imaging protocol was developed to follow the evolution of bone regeneration and the neo-vascularization in femoral bone defects in rats. For this, three different biomaterials based on Pullulan-Dextran and containing either Fucoidan or HydroxyApatite or both were implanted. In vivo MRI, ex vivo micro-CT and histology were performed 1, 3 and 5 weeks after implantation. The high spatially resolved (156 × 182 × 195 µm) anatomical images showed a high contrast from the defects filled with biomaterials that decreased over time due to bone formation. The 3D Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) imaging with high temporal resolution (1 image/19 s) enabled to detect a modification in the Area-Under-The-Gadolinium-Curve over the weeks post implantation. The high sensitivity of MRI enabled to distinguish which biomaterial was the least efficient for bone regeneration, which was confirmed by micro-CT images and by a lower vessel density observed by histology. In conclusion, the methodology developed here highlights the efficiency of longitudinal MRI for tissue engineering as a routine small animal exam.