Suman Bose, Devina Thiono, Lisa Volpatti, Volkan Yesilyurt, Robert Langer, Daniel G. Anderson
The immune system does a very good job at identifying what is foreign to our body and does its best to protect us from any intruder. When a biomaterial is implanted, the immune system jumps into action and deposits a layer of cells and protein matrix on the material through a process known as fibrosis. The images capture this process of fibrosis in action. At least two major players of fibrosis – macrophages (rounded) and fibroblasts (stretched, fiber like) can be seen in these pictures.
These images were a taken as a part of an assay where we characterize the biocompatibility of a material by imaging the fibrotic layer. I am studying the effects of various surface treatment on the biocompatibility of a material.
Keywords: 2017, Anderson Laboratory, Langer Laboratory, W.M. Keck Microscopy Facility, confocal microscopy, devices, fibroblasts, macrophages, MIT
Collection: Image Awards 2017