Scaffold-free trachea regeneration by tissue engineering with bio-3D printing

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Current artificial airway scaffolds have limitations.
• Autologous artificial tracheas offer a promising alternative, avoiding foreign materials and immunosuppressants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel scaffold-free artificial trachea using bio-3D printing technology.
• To assess the feasibility of circumferential tracheal replacement with bio-3D-printed, scaffold-free grafts in an inbred animal model.

Main Methods:

• Isolated chondrocytes, mesenchymal stem cells, and lung microvessel endothelial cells from F344 rats.
• Utilized a bio-3D printer to create cell spheroids and construct scaffold-free trachea-like grafts.
• Matured grafts in a bioreactor, transplanted them into rats, and evaluated mechanical strength and histology.

Main Results:

• Bio-3D-printed scaffold-free artificial tracheas demonstrated sufficient tensile strength (526.3 ± 125.7 mN) for transplantation.
• Histological examination revealed successful chondrogenesis and vasculogenesis in the grafts.
• Tracheal transplantation was successfully performed in 9 rats, with grafts supported by silicone stents.

Conclusions:

• Scaffold-free isogenic artificial tracheas produced via bio-3D printing are viable as tracheal grafts in rats.
• This technology represents a significant advancement in artificial airway reconstruction.
• Further research may lead to improved treatments for tracheal defects.