Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (15): 3227-3234.doi: 10.12307/2025.177

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Applications and prospects of tissue clearing technology in field of orthopedics

Gao Yang1, 2, Gao Yuan2, Ma Bingjiang1, 2, Yue Hui1, Shi Yongxin2, 3   

  1. 1Mudanjiang Medical College, Mudanjiang 157011, Heilongjiang Province, China; 2Affiliated South China Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518111, Guangdong Province, China; 3Shenzhen Guangming District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518106, Guangdong Province, China 
  • Received:2024-04-01 Accepted:2024-05-14 Online:2025-05-28 Published:2024-11-05
  • Contact: Shi Yongxin, MD, Associate chief physician, Affiliated South China Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518111, Guangdong Province, China; Shenzhen Guangming District People’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518106, Guangdong Province, China
  • About author:Gao Yang, Master candidate, Mudanjiang Medical College, Mudanjiang 157011, Heilongjiang Province, China; Affiliated South China Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518111, Guangdong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Shenzhen Guangming District Soft Science Research Project, No. 2021R01026 (to SYX); Doctoral Research Initiation Fund of Mudanjiang Medical College, No. 2021-MYBSKY-019 (to YH) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Bone tissue, as a highly mineralized and structurally complex connective tissue, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the form and function of living organisms. Traditional imaging techniques have been insufficient to meet the demands for in-depth observation of bone. The advent of tissue clearing technology has enabled researchers to more clearly observe the intricate structures within bones, such as trabecular bone, bone marrow cavities, and neural and vascular networks interacting with bone tissue. This has opened new perspectives for research and clinical applications in orthopedics.
OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively summarize the applications of tissue clearing technology in the field of orthopedics and to explore its potential in the study of bone tissue structure and function, elucidation of disease mechanisms, and innovation in treatment strategies. Additionally, it provides an outlook on innovative directions.
METHODS: The review encompassed a search of the CNKI and PubMed databases using search terms “tissue clearing, tissue optical, bone” in English and “tissue clearing, bone, bone defect” in Chinese, combined with Boolean logic to optimize the search strategy. The inclusion criteria were scholarly articles and dissertations directly related to tissue clearing technology and orthopedic research, excluding literature with weak relevance, duplication, or incomplete data. A total of 82 articles were finally analyzed, focusing on the efficacy of clearing techniques, their scope of application, and their contributions to orthopedic research. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Tissue clearing technology has demonstrated unique advantages in various domains, including the analysis of bone structure, the study of bone metabolism, the pathological characteristics of bone tumors, the process of fracture healing, the mechanisms of bone infection, and the evaluation of biocompatibility of bone grafts and implant materials. (2) The application of this technology has not only accelerated the progress of basic research in the field of orthopedics but also provides new strategies and methods for clinical treatment, indicating a broad application prospect in orthopedic research.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程

Key words: tissue clearing technology, orthopedics, three-dimensional imaging, bone tissue, biomedical imaging

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