ScaffoldNet: Detecting and Classifying Biomedical Polymer-Based Scaffolds via a Convolutional Neural Network

Abstract

We developed a Convolutional Neural Network model to identify and classify Airbrushed (alternatively known as Blow-spun), Electrospun and Steel Wire scaffolds. Our model ScaffoldNet is a 6-layer Convolutional Neural Network trained and tested on 3,043 images of Airbrushed, Electrospun and Steel Wire scaffolds. The model takes in as input an imaged scaffold and then outputs the scaffold type (Airbrushed, Electrospun or Steel Wire) as predicted probabilities for the 3 classes. Our model scored a 99.44% Accuracy, demonstrating potential for adaptation to investigating and solving complex machine learning problems aimed at abstract spatial contexts, or in screening complex, biological, fibrous structures seen in cortical bone and fibrous shells.