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Scanning acoustic microscopy of biological cryosections: the effect of local thickness on apparent acoustic wave speed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2014

Craig J. Williams ,
Helen. K. Graham ,
Xuegen Zhao ,
Riaz Akhtar ,
Christopher E.M. Griffiths ,
Rachel E B Watson ,
Michael J Sherratt  and
Brian Derby
Craig J. Williams
Affiliation:
School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Equal contributors
Helen. K. Graham
Affiliation:
Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic and Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Equal contributors
Xuegen Zhao
Affiliation:
School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Riaz Akhtar
Affiliation:
Centre for Materials and Structures, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, UK.
Christopher E.M. Griffiths
Affiliation:
Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic and Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Rachel E B Watson
Affiliation:
Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic and Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Michael J Sherratt
Affiliation:
Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic and Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Brian Derby
Affiliation:
School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Abstract

Scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM), when applied to biological samples has the potential to resolve the longitudinal acoustic wave speed and hence stiffness of discrete tissue components. The heterogeneity of biological materials combined with the action of cryosectioning and rehydrating can, however, create variations in section topography. Here, we set out to determine how variations in specimen thickness influence apparent acoustic wave speed measurements

Cryosections (5μm nominal thickness) of human skin biopsies were adhered to glass slides before washing and rehydrating in water. Multiple regions (200x200 μm; n = 3) were imaged by SAM to generate acoustic wave speed maps. Subsequently co-localised 30x30 μm sub-regions were imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in fluid. The images were then registered using Image J. Each pixel was allocated both a height and wave speed value before their relationship was then plotted on a scattergram. The mean section thickness measured by AFM was 3.48 ± 1.12 (SD) μm. Regional height variations influenced apparent wave speed measurements. A 3.5 μm height difference was associated with a 400 ms-1 increase in wave speed. In the present study we show that local variations in specimen thickness influence apparent wave speed. We also show that a true measure of wave speed can be calculated if the thickness of the specimen is known at each sampling point.

Keywords

scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM)tissuebiological
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1621: Symposium H/C/D/J – Advances in Structures, Properties and Applications of Biological and Bioinspired Materials , 2014 , pp. 143 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

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