Low‐Field MRI as a Multiparametric Tool for Large Engineered Tissue Characterization
Abstract
Advances in 3D bioprinting have enabled the fabrication of large and complex engineered tissues, but their increasing size demands non-invasive tools for monitoring structure, maturation, and perfusion. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers unique multiparametric capabilities, yet high-field systems remain costly and inaccessible for most laboratories. In this study, we evaluate the potential of low-field MRI (LF MRI, 0.3 T) as an affordable and versatile alternative to high-field MRI (HF MRI, 7 T) for characterizing bioprinted tissue constructs. Using standardized PLA and hydrogel scaffolds within a custom-designed perfusion chamber, we compared LF and HF imaging performance for morphology and flow visualization. Both modalities successfully resolved internal scaffold features, with morphometric deviations from reference CAD models remaining within quality control tolerances. Flow imaging demonstrated that LF MRI could capture velocity distributions consistent with HF measurements and computational fluid dynamics simulations, even revealing fabrication-induced defects such as channel collapse or occlusion. Finally, we applied LF MRI for longitudinal monitoring of a perfused adipose tissue construct over 34 days. This approach enabled repeated non-destructive assessments of morphology and perfusion, with final histological analyses confirming homogeneous adipogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix deposition. Together, these results establish LF MRI as a powerful tool for real-time, non-invasive evaluation of biofabricated tissues. By combining affordability, portability, and multiparametric imaging capacity, LF MRI broadens access to advanced monitoring strategies in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, supporting both quality control and functional assessment of large-scale engineered constructs.
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BibTeX
@article{gimenez2026lowfield,
title = {{Low‐Field MRI as a Multiparametric Tool for Large Engineered Tissue Characterization}},
author = {Yilbert Gimenez and Valernst Martial Gilmus and Elliott Cowles and Lucie Essayan and Vincent Semet and Michel Cabrera and Christophe Marquette and Simon Lambert and Emma Petiot},
journal = {Biotechnology and Bioengineering},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1002/bit.70329},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05759975v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Low‐Field MRI as a Multiparametric Tool for Large Engineered Tissue Characterization
AU - Yilbert Gimenez
AU - Valernst Martial Gilmus
AU - Elliott Cowles
AU - Lucie Essayan
AU - Vincent Semet
AU - Michel Cabrera
AU - Christophe Marquette
AU - Simon Lambert
AU - Emma Petiot
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/26
JO - Biotechnology and Bioengineering
DO - 10.1002/bit.70329
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05759975v1
AB - Advances in 3D bioprinting have enabled the fabrication of large and complex engineered tissues, but their increasing size demands non-invasive tools for monitoring structure, maturation, and perfusion. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers unique multiparametric capabilities, yet high-field systems remain costly and inaccessible for most laboratories. In this study, we evaluate the potential of low-field MRI (LF MRI, 0.3 T) as an affordable and versatile alternative to high-field MRI (HF MRI, 7 T) for characterizing bioprinted tissue constructs. Using standardized PLA and hydrogel scaffolds within a custom-designed perfusion chamber, we compared LF and HF imaging performance for morphology and flow visualization. Both modalities successfully resolved internal scaffold features, with morphometric deviations from reference CAD models remaining within quality control tolerances. Flow imaging demonstrated that LF MRI could capture velocity distributions consistent with HF measurements and computational fluid dynamics simulations, even revealing fabrication-induced defects such as channel collapse or occlusion. Finally, we applied LF MRI for longitudinal monitoring of a perfused adipose tissue construct over 34 days. This approach enabled repeated non-destructive assessments of morphology and perfusion, with final histological analyses confirming homogeneous adipogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix deposition. Together, these results establish LF MRI as a powerful tool for real-time, non-invasive evaluation of biofabricated tissues. By combining affordability, portability, and multiparametric imaging capacity, LF MRI broadens access to advanced monitoring strategies in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, supporting both quality control and functional assessment of large-scale engineered constructs.
SN - 0006-3592
SN - 1097-0290
ER -