Imaging morphology studies

Yucel, M., Stuart, G. W., Maruff, P. et al. Paracingulate morphologic differences in males with established schizophrenia a magnetic resonance imaging morphometric study. Biol. Psychiat. 52 15-23, 2002. 

In contrast transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can in skilled hands yield detailed quantitative data on pore structure, and can even provide valuable information on the wet state of resins by plunge freezing such samples and microtom-ing on a cold stage [105]. To obtain quantitative information it is necessary to use advanced image analysis methodology which is extremely powerful [106]. Unfortunately the approach is time consuming and costly and can rarely be applied routinely in morphology studies. 

The FVB-T1E2/GFP mouse, in which the endothelium is fluorescent, has heen used to study morphological changes in the renal microvascular endothelium during ischemia-reperfusion injury in the kidney [169]. Alterations in the cytoskeleton of renal microvascular endothelial cells correlated with a permeability defect in the renal microvasculature as identified using fluorescent dextrans and two-photon intravital imaging. This study demonstrates that renal vascular endothelial injury occurs in ischemic AKI and may play an important role in the pathophysiology of ischemic AKI. 

The results presented here show some interesting image analysis parameters that can be used for the morphological study in the CNS after drugs or toxicants exposure (see, for example, refs. 3, 4, and 25). In our experience these parameters (area, relative area, ROD, etc.) were extremely useful for the study of the effects of canabimimetic drugs on the young rat s CNS. 

Earher attempts in the study of hollow fiber morphology are based on cross-sectional pictmes taken by SEM, by which the asynmietric structure of the fiber membranes was clearly seen. In contrast to the SEM, morphological studies of hollow fibers by AFM are mostly based on the image of the fiber surface, either on the inside or the outside. A cross-sectional pictme has seldom been taken. 

The focus on visual evidence of morphological forms of filled polymer blends emerged in the literature in conjunction with studies on electron microscopy. Breuer et al. [28] used a series of SEM images to study morphology development in CB-filled linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/high impact polystyrene (HIPS) blends. These authors made the following observations. First, CB particles were observed to be localized in LLDPE droplets. Second, the presence of CB particles reduced the size... 

Polyethylene has to a large extent dominated morphological studies in polymer systems however, it is a good model for other systems. Optical microscopy of acetal shows the same characteristic patterns found in polyethylene when a spherulite is viewed under cross-polar imaging (Figure 5.14). 

In this chapter an overview is presented of the application of EM to morphological studies of polymer blends, with special emphasis on sample preparation and comparative studies using AFM. A brief overview of sample preparation is first provided, followed by some typical characterizations of polymer blends, based on the present author s experience, research data, and information reported elsewhere. It should be noted that only the imaging of polymer blend structures will be described at this point, since the assodated spectroscopic tools and chemical mapping are beyond the scope of the chapter. 

Figure 10.7 TEM images clearly show the effects of precise branch placement random polyolefins show a broad distribution of lamellar thicknesses precision polyolefins feature lamella of uniform thickness. (Reprinted from S. Hosoda, Y. Nozue, Y. Kawashima et al, Perfectly controlled lamella thickness and thickness distribution A morphological study on ADMET polyolefins, Macromolecular Symposia, 282, 50-64 2009, with the permission of John Wiley Sons, Inc.)...

Figure 17.11 SEM image of multihollow polymer particles crosslinked with 50% EGDMA showing the (a) surface and (b) an internal image. (With kind permission from Springer Science + Business Media Colloid Polymer Science, Multihollow polymer microcapsules by water-in-oil-in-water emulsion polymerization Morphological study and entrapment characteristics, 281, 2, 2003, 157-163, J.-W. Kim, J.-Y. Ko, J.-B. Jun et al)...

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