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Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Fabrication of Decellularized Cartilage-derived Matrix Scaffolds
Published on: January 7, 2019
Long-Term Chondrocyte Retention in Partially Decellularized Tracheal Grafts
Maxwell Bergman1,2, Jacqueline Harwood2, Lumei Liu3
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Objective:
Decellularized tracheal grafts possess the biological cues necessary for tissue regeneration. However, conventional decellularization approaches to target the removal of all cell populations including chondrocytes lead to a loss of mechanical support. We have created a partially decellularized tracheal graft (PDTG) that preserves donor chondrocytes and the mechanical properties of the trachea. In this study, we measured PDTG chondrocyte retention with a murine microsurgical model.
Study Design:
Murine in vivo time-point study.
Setting:
Research Institute affiliated with Tertiary Pediatric Hospital.
Methods:
PDTG was created using a sodium dodecyl sulfate protocol. Partially decellularized and syngeneic grafts were orthotopically implanted into female C57BL/6J mice. Grafts were recovered at 1, 3, and 6 months postimplant. Pre- and postimplant grafts were processed and analyzed via quantitative immunofluorescence. Chondrocytes (SOX9+, DAPI+) present in the host and graft cartilage was evaluated using ImageJ.
Results:
Partial decellularization resulted in the maintenance of gross tracheal architecture with the removal of epithelial and submucosal structures on histology. All grafts demonstrated SOX9+ chondrocytes throughout the study time points. Chondrocytes in PDTG were lower at 6 months compared to preimplant and syngeneic controls.
Conclusion:
PDTG retained donor graft chondrocytes at all time points. However, PDTG exhibits a reduction in chondrocytes at 6 months. The impact of these histologic changes on cartilage extracellular matrix regeneration and repair remains unclear.
