An animal model study for tissue-engineered trachea fabricated from a biodegradable scaffold using chondrocytes to augment repair of tracheal stenosis.
BACKGROUND
We have designed an engineered graft fabricated from a biodegradable scaffold using chondrocytes and applied this construct to augment repair of tracheal stenosis. This study investigated the feasibility of using such tissue-engineered airways with autologous chondrocytes in a rabbit model.


METHODS
Chondrocytes were isolated and expanded from the auricular cartilage of New Zealand white rabbits, then seeded onto composite 3-layer scaffolds consisting of a collagen sheet, a polyglycolic acid mesh, and a copolymer (l-lactide/epsilon-caprolactone) coarse mesh. The engineered grafts were implanted into a 0.5 x 0.8-cm defect created in the midventral portion of the cervical trachea. Gelatin sponges that slowly released basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) were then placed on the constructs, which were retrieved 1 or 3 months after implantation.


RESULTS
The biodegradable scaffold seeded with chondrocytes could maintain airway structure up to 3 months after implantation. Tracheal epithelial regeneration occurred in the internal lumen of this composite scaffold. Three months after implantation, staining of the sections showed cartilage accumulation in the engineered tracheal wall.


CONCLUSIONS
This composite biodegradable scaffold may be useful for developing engineered trachea. A gelatin sponge slowly releasing b-FGF might enhance chondrogenesis.
Komura
Makoto
M
Department of Pediatric Surgery Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. komura-tky@umin.ac.jp
Komura
Hiroko
H
Kanamori
Yutaka
Y
Tanaka
Yujirou
Y
Suzuki
Kan
K
Sugiyama
Masahiko
M
Nakahara
Saori
S
Kawashima
Hiroshi
H
Hatanaka
Akira
A
Hoshi
Kazuto
K
Ikada
Yosihito
Y
Tabata
Yasuhiko
Y
Iwanaka
Tadashi
T
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000637:transplantation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen; D004343:Drug Implants; D004431:Ear, External / Q000166:cytology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D008863:Microspheres; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011817:Rabbits; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004343:Drug Implants; D011091:Polyesters; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; C062968:lactide-caprolactone copolymer; D003094:Collagen