Poly-ε-caprolactone mesh as a scaffold for in vivo tissue engineering in rabbit esophagus

Repair of long-gap esophageal atresia is associated with a high degree of complications. Tissue engineering on a scaffold of a bioresorbable material could be a solution. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vivo tissue engineering of smooth muscle cells and epithelium on a poly-ε-caprolactone mesh in rabbit esophagus. Twenty female rabbits had a window of 0.6 × 1 cm cut in the abdominal part of the esophagus. The defect was covered with a poly-ε-caprolactone mesh. The rabbits were killed on postoperative day 28-30, and mesh with surrounding esophagus was removed for histological examination. Fifteen rabbits survived the trial period. Six had no complications and had the mesh in situ. They all had ingrowth of epithelial and smooth muscle cells and an almost completely degraded mesh. Nine rabbits developed pseudo-diverticula. It proved possible to engineer both epithelial and smooth muscle cells on the poly-ε-caprolactone mesh in spite of a fast mesh degradation. The latter may be the explanation to the development of pseudo-diverticula; this is a problem that needs attention in future experimental trials.