Tissue engineered esophagus scaffold constructed with porcine small intestinal submucosa and synthetic polymers

Biomed Mater. 2014 Feb;9(1):015012. doi: 10.1088/1748-6041/9/1/015012. Epub 2014 Jan 23.

Abstract

Acellular porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) has been successfully used for reconstructing esophagus with half circumferential defects. However, repairing full circumferential esophageal defects with SIS has been restricted due to the latter's poor mechanical properties. In the present study, synthetic polyesters biomaterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) have been used to improve the mechanical properties of SIS. Feasibility of SIS/PHBHHx-PLGA composite material scaffold for esophageal tissue engineering has been assessed through a series of testing. The appropriate mixing ratio of PHBHHx and PLGA polymers has been determined as 5:5 by mechanical testing and in vitro degradation experiment. The morphology of constructed membranous and tubular scaffolds was also characterized. As confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the contents of VEGF and TGF-β have respectively reached 657 ± 18 ng mL(-1) and 130 ± 4 pg mL(-1) within the SIS/PHBHHx-PLGA specimens. Biocompatibility of the SIS/PHBHHx-PLGA specimens with rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was also evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and a live-dead cell viability assay. Actin filaments of MSCs on the composite materials were labeled. Biological safety of the extract from SIS/PHBHHx-PLGA specimens, measured as hemolysis rate, was all lower than 5%. Compared with SIS and SIS/PHBHHx-PLGA specimens, inflammatory reaction provoked by the PHBHHx-PLGA specimens in rats was however more severe. Our results have suggested that SIS/PHBHHx-PLGA composite material can offer a new approach for esophageal tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / chemistry
  • Actins / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Caproates / chemistry
  • Cell Survival
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Esophagus / pathology*
  • Inflammation
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology*
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Swine
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Caproates
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid