title: An animal model study for tissue-engineered trachea fabricated from a biodegradable scaffold using chondrocytes to augment repair of tracheal stenosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. komura-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komura
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komura
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanamori
authors.forename: Yujirou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: Yosihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikada
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabata
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwanaka
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004343:Drug Implants; D011091:Polyesters; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; C062968:lactide-caprolactone copolymer; D003094:Collagen