Research data supporting "Avoiding artefacts in MicroCT imaging of Collagen Scaffolds: Effect of phosphotungstic acid (PTA)-staining and crosslink density"

Collagen scaffolds were produced by a freeze-drying (lyophilization) method and chemically crosslinked using EDC/NHS at varying degrees (0%-100%). A contrast agent, phosphotungstic acid (PTA) was used to visualise fully hydrated collagen scaffolds in a physiologically relevant environment. The fully hydrated and stained samples were scanned using a μ-CT SkyScan 1172 (Bruker, Kontich, Belgium) at pixel size of 5 μm and their pore sizes were analysed using the CTAn software (Bruker). The Microsoft Excel file called “uCT analysis results_Mean pore size and Volume shrinkage” contains the raw measurements of mean pore sizes and diameter of each collagen scaffold after various immersion treatments. This data was used to produce a part of Figure 2 and Figure 3. Furthermore, this file contains raw measurements of the volumes of 0%-XL scaffolds before and after immersion treatments. The average volume shrinkage in percentage was evaluated for each scaffold and the values were used to produce a part of Figure 3c and Figures 5a-g. The other Microsoft Excel file called “uCT analysis results_Pore size distribution” contains the raw data after 3D analysis in the CTAn software for each collagen scaffold. This data was used to produce a part of Figure 2 and Figure 3. Please see the main manuscript for more details, if needed.

本研究采用冻干法制备胶原支架，并通过EDC/NHS进行化学交联，交联程度覆盖0%至100%。为在生理相关环境中实现完全水合胶原支架的可视化成像，选用磷钨酸（PTA）作为造影剂。对经染色的完全水合样品，采用显微计算机断层扫描（μ-CT）SkyScan 1172（布鲁克公司，比利时孔蒂奇）进行扫描，扫描像素尺寸设置为5 μm，随后借助CTAn软件（布鲁克公司）分析其孔径尺寸。名为"uCT分析结果_平均孔径与体积收缩率"的微软Excel文件，收录了各胶原支架经不同浸泡处理后的平均孔径及孔直径原始测量数据，该数据集被用于制作图2与图3的部分内容。此外，该文件还包含0%交联度支架在浸泡处理前后的体积原始测量数据，据此计算得到各支架的体积收缩率百分比均值，相关数值被用于制作图3c及图5a至5g的部分内容。另一款名为"uCT分析结果_孔径分布"的微软Excel文件，收录了经CTAn软件完成三维分析后各胶原支架的原始数据，该数据集被用于制作图2与图3的部分内容。如需获取更多细节，请参阅研究主文稿。