A rational tissue engineering strategy based on three-dimensional (3D) printing for extensive circumferential...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Extensive circumferential tracheal defects pose significant challenges in tracheal reconstruction.
• Current reconstructive methods often have limitations in addressing large-scale tracheal damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel tissue-engineered tracheal graft for extensive circumferential tracheal reconstruction.
• To assess the efficacy of a 3D-printed scaffold combined with decellularized extracellular matrix and human cells.

Main Methods:

• A trachea-mimetic bellows scaffold was fabricated using indirect 3D printing and reinforced with silicone bands.
• The scaffold was coated with tracheal mucosa decellularized extracellular matrix (tmdECM) hydrogel.
• Human inferior turbinate mesenchymal stromal cell (hTMSC) sheets were layered onto the tmdECM hydrogel.
• The engineered graft was implanted in a rabbit model with critical length tracheal defects.

Main Results:

• Complete re-epithelialization of the entire luminal surface was achieved within two months post-implantation.
• The tissue-engineered tracheal graft demonstrated successful integration and function in the rabbit model.
• No post-operative complications were observed during the study period.

Conclusions:

• The developed tissue-engineered tracheal graft shows promising potential for extensive circumferential tracheal reconstruction.
• This strategy offers a viable tissue engineering approach for addressing challenging tracheal defects.
• Further research may validate this method for clinical applications in tracheal repair.