title: A method for constructing vascularized muscle flap.
abstract: Abdominal wall reconstruction following extensive tissue loss is essential and can be achieved using autologous flaps. However, their use is limited due to their inadequate availability and due to post-operative donor site scarification. This work presents a step-by-step technique for fabrication of a vascularized muscle flap, to be applied in full-thickness abdominal wall defect reconstruction. Poly L-lactic acid/poly lactic-co-glycolic acid scaffolds, prepared using a salt leaching technique, were used as the supporting matrix in vitro for simultaneously seeded endothelial cells, fibroblasts and myoblasts. The cell-embedded graft was then implanted around femoral artery and vein vessels, which provided a central blood supply. Vascularization and perfusion were achieved by capillary sprouting from the main host vessel into the graft. A thick and vascularized tissue was formed within one week, and was then transferred as an autologous flap together with its main vessels, to a full-thickness abdominal wall defect. The flap remained viable after transfer and featured sufficient mechanical strength to support the abdominal viscera. Thus, this engineered muscle flap can be used as an alternative source for autologous flaps to reconstruct full-thickness abdominal wall defects.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shandalov
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Egozi
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel; Inter-departmental Program in Biotechnology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freiman
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: Dekel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel. Electronic address: Shulamit@bm.technion.ac.il.
authors.forename: Shulamit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levenberg
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011091:Polyesters; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D013718:Tensile Strength; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)
keywords: Flap; Muscle; Scaffold; Tissue engineering; Vascularization; Vascularized tissue