Bioreactor-Based De-epithelialization of Long-Segment Tracheal Grafts

Tissue engineering techniques to generate a graft ex vivo is an exciting field of research. In particular, the use of biological scaffolds has shown to be promising in a clinical setting. In this approach, decellularized donor scaffolds are obtained following detergent-based enzymatic treatment to remove donor cells and subsequently repopulated with recipient specific cells. Herein, we describe our bioreactor-based partial decellularization approach to generate hybrid tracheal grafts. Using a short detergent-based treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), we remove the epithelium and maintain the structural integrity of the donor grafts by keeping the cartilage alive. The following will be a step-by-step description of the bioreactor system setup and partial decellularization protocol to obtain a de-epithelialized tracheal graft.