Mapping the micromechanical properties of cryo-sectioned aortic tissue with scanning acoustic microscopy

Riaz Akhtar, Michael J. Sherratt, Rachel E.B. Watson, Tribikram Kundu, Brian Derby

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although the gross mechanical properties of ageing tissues have been extensively documented, biological tissues are highly heterogeneous and little is known concerning the variation of micro-mechanical properties within tissues. Here, we use Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM) to map the acoustic wave speed (a measure of stiffness) as a function of distance from the outer adventitial layer of cryo-sectioned ferret aorta. With a 400 MHz lens, the images of the aorta samples matched those obtained following chemical fixation and staining of sections which were viewed with fluorescence microscopy. Quantitative analysis was conducted with a frequency scanning or V(f) technique by imaging the tissue from 960 MHz to 1.1 GHz. Undulating acoustic wave speed (stiffness) distributions corresponded with elastic fibre locations in the tissue; there was a decrease in wave speed of around 40 ms-1 from the adventitia (outer layer) to the intima (innermost).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMechanics of Biological and Biomedical Materials
PublisherMaterials Research Society
Pages41-46
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781615677665
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Event2008 MRS Fall Meeting - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: Dec 1 2008Dec 5 2008

Publication series

NameMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
Volume1132
ISSN (Print)0272-9172

Other

Other2008 MRS Fall Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period12/1/0812/5/08

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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