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Tissue-Engineered Graft for Circumferential Esophageal Reconstruction in Rats
Published on: February 10, 2020
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Biomimetic and synthetic esophageal tissue engineering
Todd Jensen1, Alex Blanchette1, Stephanie Vadasz1
1Department of Vascular Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue MC3501, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
Biomaterials
|April 29, 2015
Summary
Tissue-engineered esophagus constructs created from isolated rat esophageal cells show promise for treating esophageal defects. These bioengineered tissues integrated successfully after transplantation, supporting normal feeding in recipients.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Esophageal defects in pediatric and adult patients necessitate advanced treatment options.
- Current treatments for severe esophageal malformations, injury, or cancer have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a tissue-engineered esophagus as an alternative treatment for esophageal reconstruction.
- To evaluate the potential of using isolated esophageal cells and synthetic scaffolds for esophageal tissue engineering.
Main Methods:
- Donor rat esophageal tissue was processed to isolate epithelial and smooth muscle cells.
- Cells were cultured and seeded onto electrospun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ε-caprolactone)/PLGA scaffolds.
- Constructs were cultured in a bioreactor and subsequently transplanted orthotopically into host rats.
Main Results:
- Isolated cells differentiated into epithelial, smooth muscle, and glial cell types.
- Tissue-engineered constructs supported these cellular phenotypes in vitro and after 14 days of implantation.
- Transplanted constructs integrated with host tissue, and recipients exhibited normal feeding behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Cultured esophageal cells can be successfully seeded onto scaffolds to create functional esophageal constructs.
- This approach holds potential for the tissue engineering of human esophageal replacements.
