Duisit, Jérôme; Amiel, Hadrien; Wüthrich, Tsering; Taddeo, Adriano; Dedriche, Adeline; Destoop, Vincent; Pardoen, Thomas; Bouzin, Caroline; Joris, Virginie; Magee, Derek; Vögelin, Esther; Harriman, David; Dessy, Chantal; Orlando, Giuseppe; Behets, Catherine; Rieben, Robert; Gianello, Pierre; Lengelé, Benoît (2018). Perfusion-decellularization of human ear grafts enables ECM-based scaffolds for auricular vascularized composite tissue engineering. Acta biomaterialia, 73, pp. 339-354. Elsevier 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.04.009
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INTRODUCTION
Human ear reconstruction is recognized as the emblematic enterprise in tissue engineering. Up to now, it has failed to reach human applications requiring appropriate tissue complexity along with an accessible vascular tree. We hereby propose a new method to process human auricles in order to provide a poorly immunogenic, complex and vascularized ear graft scaffold.
METHODS
12 human ears with their vascular pedicles were procured. Perfusion-decellularization was applied using a SDS/polar solvent protocol. Cell and antigen removal was examined by histology and DNA was quantified. Preservation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) was assessed by conventional and 3D-histology, proteins and cytokines quantifications. Biocompatibility was assessed by implantation in rats for up to 60 days. Adipose-derived stem cells seeding was conducted on scaffold samples and with human aortic endothelial cells whole graft seeding in a perfusion-bioreactor.
RESULTS
Histology confirmed cell and antigen clearance. DNA reduction was 97.3%. ECM structure and composition were preserved. Implanted scaffolds were tolerated in vivo, with acceptable inflammation, remodeling, and anti-donor antibody formation. Seeding experiments demonstrated cell engraftment and viability.
CONCLUSIONS
Vascularized and complex auricular scaffolds can be obtained from human source to provide a platform for further functional auricular tissue engineered constructs, hence providing an ideal road to the vascularized composite tissue engineering approach.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The ear is emblematic in the biofabrication of tissues and organs. Current regenerative medicine strategies, with matrix from donor tissues or 3D-printed didn't reach any application for reconstruction, because critically missing a vascular tree to perfuse and to transplant it. We previously described the production of vascularized and cell-compatible scaffolds, from porcine ear grafts; in this study, we then applied findings directly to human auricles harvested from postmortem donors, providing a perfusable matrix, retaining the ear's original complexity, that even hosts new viable cells after seeding. This approach unlocks the ability to achieve an auricular tissue engineering approach, associated with possible clinical translation.