Tissue engineering for regeneration in vivo of decellularized trachea scaffolds using a porcine model

Abstract

Tissue engineering has made possible organ regeneration to substitute biological functions without immunological response using decellularized scaffolds, autologous cells and regeneration in vitro or in vivo. The objective is to obtain in vivo regeneration of decellularized scaffold tracheas using omentum of porcine model. Two methods were used for the descellularization; scaffolds were sterilized and storaged at -80ºC, were unfrozen and samples were taken for their analysis before being implanted in the omentum of four pigs. Each animal received a different scaffold: decellularized trachea with triton, desoxicolate, desoxicolate reforced with polymer and epihitelial cells, and native criopreserved trachea. After l5 and 8 days, tissue was obtained for histological and mechanical evaluation; a casuistic analysis was made. The mechanical evaluation of scaffolds showed no difference with the control; histologically they did not present epithelium or glands with residual chondrocytes. The regenerated tissues showed revascularization, neoformation with parcial respiratory epithelium and significant mechanical alterations. Reforced trachea did not had epithelium and vasculogenesis, but had inflamatory process; all porcine models survived the experiment. The regeneration in vivo maintains sterility, cellular interaction and provides nutrients and growth factors is a simple, feasible and economic way. Mechanical alterations are due to a drastic decellurization, cryopreservation or failure of shearing forces. Reinforcement with a polymer to correct the mechanical alterations inhibited the neoformation and revascularization generating inflammation, the reepithelialisation was not achieved.