The effects of a simple optical clearing protocol on the mechanics of collagenous soft tissue.

ABSTRACT: Optical clearing of biological tissues improves imaging depth for light transmission imaging modalities such as two-photon microscopy. In studies that investigate the interplay between microstructure and tissue-level mechanics, mechanical testing of cleared tissue may be useful. However, the effects of optical clearing on soft tissue mechanics have not been investigated. Thus, we set out to quantify the effects of a simple and effective optical clearing protocol on the mechanics of soft collagenous tissues using ovine mitral valve anterior leaflets as a model system. First, we demonstrate the effectiveness of an isotonic glycerol-DMSO optical clearing protocol in two-photon microscopy. Second, we evaluate the mechanical effects of optical clearing on leaflets under equibiaxial tension in a

SUBMITTER: Meador WD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8153218 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature