4D-Spatiotemporal SHG Imaging for the Analysis of Drug-Induced Changes in the Dura Mater

The spatiotemporal assessment of tissue dynamics after
the introduction
of disruptive factors is crucial for evaluating their impact and for
developing effective countermeasures. Here, we report a 4D-spatiotemporal
imaging approach using second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging microscopy,
enabling an advanced time-resolved analysis of three-dimensional tissue
features. This is of particular interest as topical administration
of drugs during spinal surgeries is a standard practice for preventing
and treating postoperative complications like infections. Local drug
concentrations on tissue are high in these scenarios, and given the
dura’s role as a protective barrier for the brain and spinal
cord, potential drug-induced damage should be evaluated critically.
By employing 4D-SHG imaging, we gained detailed insights into changes
in dimensional properties of thin section samples, namely, width,
height, and volume, as well as into alterations within the hierarchic
structure of collagen. The latter thereby allowed us to postulate
a mode of action, which we attributed for the herein investigated
samples to the pH of the formulation.