TY - JOUR
T1 - A workflow integrating organ-on-chip culture and correlative 3D light and electron microscopy for microtissue analysis
AU - Schaart, Judith M.
AU - Wasserberg, Dorothee
AU - Cruz, Marcos A.Eufrásio
AU - Kea-te Lindert, Mariska
AU - van der Meijden, Robin H.M.
AU - Roverts, Rona
AU - Debera, Nataliya
AU - Lu, Minh Phu
AU - Rouwkema, Jeroen
AU - Nijhuis, Wouter H.
AU - van der Meer, Andries D.
AU - Jonkheijm, Pascal
AU - Sommerdijk, Nico
AU - Akiva, Anat
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Correlative microscopy approaches offer powerful means to study tissue development across spatial scales, but combining 3D light and electron imaging remains technically challenging. Here, we present a practical workflow that integrates organ-on-a-chip culture with longitudinal fluorescence imaging and volume electron microscopy. By modifying an existing chip platform designed for aligned tissue growth, we demonstrate the feasibility of extended 3D live imaging and subsequent high-pressure freezing of intact microtissues. Fluorescence-guided targeting enables focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) of selected regions, revealing ultrastructural features such as cellular organization, collagen alignment, and matrix mineralization. While not aimed at new biological discoveries, this study highlights the compatibility and potential of this pipeline for future high-resolution, multiscale studies of tissue morphogenesis and pathology in controlled microenvironments.
AB - Correlative microscopy approaches offer powerful means to study tissue development across spatial scales, but combining 3D light and electron imaging remains technically challenging. Here, we present a practical workflow that integrates organ-on-a-chip culture with longitudinal fluorescence imaging and volume electron microscopy. By modifying an existing chip platform designed for aligned tissue growth, we demonstrate the feasibility of extended 3D live imaging and subsequent high-pressure freezing of intact microtissues. Fluorescence-guided targeting enables focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) of selected regions, revealing ultrastructural features such as cellular organization, collagen alignment, and matrix mineralization. While not aimed at new biological discoveries, this study highlights the compatibility and potential of this pipeline for future high-resolution, multiscale studies of tissue morphogenesis and pathology in controlled microenvironments.
KW - Bone-on-a-chip
KW - Correlative light and electron microscopy
KW - Live fluorescence microscopy
KW - Organ-on-a-chip
KW - Volume electron microscopy
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024715444
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-025-27587-5
DO - 10.1038/s41598-025-27587-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 41381543
AN - SCOPUS:105024715444
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 15
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
IS - 1
M1 - 43666
ER -