title: A decellularization methodology for the production of a natural acellular intestinal matrix.
abstract: Successful tissue engineering involves the combination of scaffolds with appropriate cells in vitro or in vivo. Scaffolds may be synthetic, naturally-derived or derived from tissues/organs. The latter are obtained using a technique called decellularization. Decellularization may involve a combination of physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods. The goal of this technique is to remove all cellular traces whilst maintaining the macro- and micro-architecture of the original tissue. Intestinal tissue engineering has thus far used relatively simple scaffolds that do not replicate the complex architecture of the native organ. The focus of this paper is to describe an efficient decellularization technique for rat small intestine. The isolation of the small intestine so as to ensure the maintenance of a vascular connection is described. The combination of chemical and enzymatic solutions to remove the cells whilst preserving the villus-crypt axis in the luminal aspect of the scaffold is also set out. Finally, assessment of produced scaffolds for appropriate characteristics is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Unit, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College London.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maghsoudlou
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Totonelli
authors.forename: Stavros P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Loukogeorgakis
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Coppi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds