CONFOCAL LASER-SCANNING MICROSCOPY (CLSM) FOR THE STUDY OF COLLAGEN SPONGE MICROSTRUCTURE

This study uses confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to assess th e microstructure of collagen sponges providing an accurate quantificat ion of porosity under conditions similar to those experienced by cells growing on the sponges during culture. CLSM offers several advantages over scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and conventional optical micr oscopy for this kind of study, the most important of which is probably the absence of artifacts associated with the extensive preparation of samples required for the latter two methods. When the ''pan-side'' su rface of collagen sponges was studied, it was found that the pore size s increased with increasing depth into the sponge. Collagen sponges fr ozen in a -70 degrees C freezer had a more open structure than ones fr ozen on the stage of a tissue dryer. These different pore sizes are th ought to reflect different freezing rates in the samples. (C) 1994 Joh n Wiley and Sons, Inc.