The mechanical influence of tissue engineering techniques on tracheal strength: an experimental study on sheep trachea.
Tissue engineering is an attractive concept for facilitating the transplantation of different tissue types with a low immunogeneity and a well-preserved tissue structure. We examined the influence of treatment with trypsin/ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the mechanical properties of tracheae. Fresh sheep tracheae were stored in a trypsin/EDTA solution for various periods of time (24, 46, and 72 h) and their breaking strength was subsequently examined. The results were compared with native trachea. The treatment with trypsin/EDTA results in a considerable reduction of the mechanical stability under load, in this case compared with the tensile strength, that does not correlate with the results obtained from light-optical microscopy. The results from this study reveal that tissue preparation with trypsin/EDTA does not seem to be a suitable method of preparatory treatment of tracheae intended for transplantation.
Behrend
Matthias
M
Klinik für Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Behrend@chir.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Kluge
Eva
E
Von Wasielewski
Reinhard
R
Klempnauer
Jürgen
J
D000818:Animals; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology
D002614:Chelating Agents; D004492:Edetic Acid; D014357:Trypsin