title: Tissue-engineered artificial oesophagus patch using three-dimensionally printed polycaprolactone with mesenchymal stem cells: a preliminary report.
abstract: There has been a recent focus on 3D printing with regard to tissue engineering. We evaluated the efficacy of a 3D-printed (3DP) scaffold coated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded in fibrin for the repair of partial oesophageal defects.
  
  
  
  MSCs from rabbit bone marrow were cultured, and a 3DP polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold was coated with the MSCs seeded in fibrin. The fibrin/MSC-coated 3DP PCL scaffold was implanted on a 5 × 10 mm artificial oesophageal defect in three rabbits (3DP/MSC group) and 3DP PCL-only scaffolds were implanted in three rabbits (3DP-only group). Three weeks post-procedure, the implanted sites were evaluated radiologically and histologically.
  
  
  
  None of the rabbits showed any infection, stenosis or granulation on computed tomography. In the 3DP/MSC group, the replaced scaffolds were completely covered with regenerating mucosal epithelium and smooth muscle cells as determined by haematoxylin and eosin and Desmin staining. However, mucosal epithelium and smooth muscle cell regeneration was not evident in the 3DP-only group.
  
  
  
  Use of the 3DP scaffold coated with MSCs seeded in fibrin resulted in successful restoration of the shape and histology of the cervical oesophagus without any graft rejection; thus, this is a promising material for use as an artificial oesophagus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea Department of Molecular Science & Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Kyeong
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Nature-Inspired Mechanical System Team, Nano Convergence & Manufacturing Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea ysshinmd@ajou.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yoo Seob
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea Department of Molecular Science & Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chul-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000494:pharmacology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011091:Polyesters; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D011817:Rabbits; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D005337:Fibrin
keywords: 3D-printing; Fibrin; Mesenchymal stem cell; Oesophageal regeneration; Tissue engineering