Use of PLGA scaffold for mucociliary epithelium transfer in airway reconstruction: a preliminary study.
CONCLUSIONS
A PLGA biodegradable membrane can be used as a scaffold for mucociliary epithelium transfer.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of the PLGA membrane as a biodegradable scaffold for mucociliary epithelium transfer in order for it to be used as a substitute for a skin graft for restoring mucosal defects in the airway.


METHODS
A PLGA biodegradable membrane was synthesized using the immersion precipitation method, and morphologic characterization was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The degradation test was performed by soaking the PLGA membrane in a culture medium, and the morphological changes were observed by SEM. Human nasal basal epithelial (HNBE) cells were cultured on the newly synthesized PLGA membrane, and the morphological changes were analyzed using SEM. The MUC5AC and MUC8 mRNA levels were analyzed by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
The PLGA membrane for the mucociliary epithelium transfer was successfully fabricated. It had a 24 mm diameter, a 50 microm thickness, and many pores with diameters of approximately 3 microm. The PLGA membrane began to degrade from 7 days after it was soaked in the culture medium. It rapidly degraded from 3 weeks and severe destruction of the pore structure was noted from 4 to 6 weeks of soaking. The HNBE cells were well differentiated into the mucociliary epithelium on the PLGA membrane both phenotypically and genotypically.
Kim
Chang-Hoon
CH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Bae
Jung Ho
JH
Son
Seoyeon
S
Kim
Jung-Hyun
JH
Lee
Jeung-Gweon
JG
Yoon
Joo-Heon
JH
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; C105059:MUC8 protein, human; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D055271:Mucin 5AC; D009077:Mucins; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid