Engineering a composite neotrachea with surgical adhesives.
OBJECTIVE
Reconstructive surgery often is limited by the availability of normal tissue. Tissue engineering provides promise in the development of "artificial tissues." The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy and viability of the use of a biologic surgical adhesive TISSEEL in combining engineered bronchial epithelium with engineered cartilage.


METHODS
Using isolated human cells, bronchial epithelium and mature cartilage were engineered. Using a contact adhesive technique, TISSEEL was used to biologically fuse the bronchial epithelium and the cartilage. The fused composite then was supported for 5 days in tissue culture. The mechanical properties of the adhesion were tested, and the construct was studied morphologically to assess viability of the cartilage and the bronchial epithelium. The bronchial epithelium showed a normal cell size (337.2 microm2) and epithelial thickness (46.47 microm).


RESULTS
TISSEEL was effective in fusing the epithelium to the cartilage. The construct remained viable for 5 days in culture. There was no difference in the dimensions of the bronchial epithelium or the epithelial cells. Mechanical adhesion was achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
Biologically compatible fibrin glue is an effective surgical adhesive that allows the tissue types to be fused while remaining viable and morphologically accurate. Surgical adhesives may show promise in the development of composite tissue development in the field of bioengineering.
Doolin
Edward J
EJ
Division of Pediatric Surgery Department, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Camden, NJ, USA.
Strande
Louise F
LF
Sheng
Xialoi
X
Hewitt
Charles W
CW
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006801:Humans; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology*
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives