Application Scientific Image Competition

First and Last Name: Ksenia Menshikh
Student/PhD/Postdoc: PhD Candidate
Institute: Università del Piemonte Orientale
Department: Department of Health Sciences
Group leader: Prof. Lia Rimondini (INNOVATION Lab)
Matrix Marvel: Stem Cells Thriving on Bone-Mimicking Scaffolds
Short description of image: In our studies, I am searching for a synthetic scaffold suitable for the use as a bone-like environment in 3D models of skeletal diseases in vitro. This scanning electron microscopy image shows extracellular matrix (pink) produced by primary mesenchymal stem cells seeded on the 3D-printed tricalcium phosphate scaffold (its granules are in blue). * The fact that the cells produced abundant amounts of matrix and integrated in the scaffold’s microstructure indicates that the tricalcium phosphate scaffold is cytocompatible and can potentially play role of a bone-like environment - at least, from the point of observations in vitro.
Instrument used to produce the image: Scanning Electron Microscope JSM-IT500 by Leica.