In Vivo Construction Of Scaffold-free Cylindrical Cartilage Using Cell Sheet

IntroductionExtensive tracheal reconstruction is often required in patients with benign and malignant diseases. Several approaches for tracheal replacement have been described, including the use of autologous tissue, autografts, allografts, prosthetic materials or a combination of these approaches. But these efforts have reached limited success because of stenosis, immunologic complication, bacterial infection, and material failture· The limitations of synthetic tracheal replacement have given rise to an interests in regeneration of tracheal tissue. Tissue engineering may provide a ideal choose for the reconst ruction of tracheal defect.PurposeTissue-engineered cartilage may offer a solution for the treatment of serious airway disease. This study developed a novel procedure to fabricate a scaffold-free cylindrical cartilage under in vivo conditions.MethodsAuricular chondrocytes were harvested from goat and cultivated under high-density conditions to form a chondrocyte sheet.The sheet was looped around a silicon tube and implanted in nude mice for4weeks. The engineered cylindrical cartilages were evaluated macroscopically and histologically. The expression of collagen, glycosamino-glycan content and mechanical properties were determined.ResultsThe cartilage was sufficiently elastic and stiff to maintain the structure without disruption.Histologically, the construct contained a Safranin O positive cartilaginous matrix accompanied by the expression of type Ⅱ collagen.ConclusionA novel procedure was developed for fabricating engineered cylindrical cartilage using cell sheet with in vivo. This procedure may allow for the development of a tailor-made autograft and a functionally engineered trachea.