摘要：The structure and architecture of scaffolds are crucial factors in scaffolds-based tissue
engineering since they affect the functionality of the tissue engineering construct and the eventual
application in health care. Therefore, effective scaffold assessment techniques are required right at
the initial stages of research and development so as to select or design scaffolds with suitable properties.
Furthermore, since the biological performances of a scaffold is evaluated with respect to its
capacity of favouring cell adhesion, proliferation as well as production of extracellular matrix, it is
important to have an analytical technique able to monitor the various stages of cell culture both in
vitro and especially in vivo. Finally, the development of a vascular network inside the cell scaffold
construct is a fundamental requisite for achieving a full integration of the developing tissue with the
host tissue. Also in this respect it is mandatory to assess the propensity of the scaffold to be permeated
by blood vessels. In the review, it will be shown how X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) can
give fundamental information regarding all the three aspects outlined above.
