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Hyaluronic Acid Coating on Hydrophobic Tracheal Scaffold Enhances Mesenchymal Stem Cell Adhesion and Tracheal
Ji Suk Choi1, Min Sang Lee2, Jooyoung Kim1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Long segmental tracheal repair is challenging in regenerative medicine due to low adhesion of stem cells to tracheal scaffolds. Optimal transplantation of stem cells for tracheal defects has not been established. We evaluated the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) coating of tracheal scaffolds in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) adhesion and tracheal regeneration in a rabbit model.
Methods:
A three-dimensionally printed tubular tracheal prosthesis was incubated with dopa-HA-fluorescein isothiocyanate in phosphate-buffered saline for 2 days. MSCs were incubated with an HA-coated scaffold, and their adhesion was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. HA coated scaffolds with or without MSC seeding were transplanted at the circumferential tracheal defect in rabbits, and survival, rigid bronchoscopy, radiologic findings, and histologic findings were compared between the two groups.
Results:
HA-coated scaffolds showed better MSC adhesion than non-coated scaffolds. The HA-coated scaffolds with MSC group showed a wider airway and greater mucosal regeneration compared to the HA-coated scaffolds without MSC group.
Conclusion:
HA coating of scaffolds can promote MSC adhesion and tracheal regeneration.
