gms | German Medical Science

14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)

17.06. - 21.06.2019, Berlin

Decellularized vascularized nerve scaffolds for the reconstruction of large peripheral nerve defects

Meeting Abstract

  • Radu Olariu - Hand and Plastic Surgery, Bern, Switzerland
  • Jérôme Duisit - Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Brussels, Belgium
  • presenting/speaker Ioana Lese - Hand and Plastic Surgery, Bern, Switzerland
  • Esther Voegelin - Handchirurgie und Chirurgie der peripheren Nerven, Bern, Switzerland
  • Benoît Lengele - Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Brussels, Belgium
  • Robert Rieben - Department of Clinical Research, Bern, Switzerland
  • Adriano Taddeo - Department of Clinical Research, Bern, Switzerland

International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand. International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy. 14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT). Berlin, 17.-21.06.2019. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2020. DocIFSSH19-1747

doi: 10.3205/19ifssh1444, urn:nbn:de:0183-19ifssh14442

Veröffentlicht: 6. Februar 2020

© 2020 Olariu et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). Lizenz-Angaben siehe http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Gliederung

Text

Objectives/Interrogation: Peripheral nerve injuries are devastating, life-altering injuries. Decellularized scaffolds, which act as guide-conduits for the regenerating nerves, represent a promising approach to increase availability of nerve grafts and effective nerve reconstruction when used as vascularized grafts. Here we report the development of a vascularized nerve scaffold in which the preserved vascular tree can be used for perfusion and recellularization in order to improve cell engraftment, supply of nutrient and, thus, regeneration and functional recovery.

Methods: Seven vascularized porcine sciatic nerve scaffolds (VPNS) were retrieved and perfusion-decellularization was applied using a SDS/Triton X detergent protocol. Decellularized VPNS were characterized analyzing cell and DNA content and preservation of extracellular matrix (ECM), vascular tree and cytokine content. Reendothelialization of decellularized scaffolds was conducted with porcine-aorta endothelial cells (PAEC) in a perfusion-bioreactor.

Results and Conclusions: Scaffold vascularization was confirmed by angiography before and after decellularization. Morphologic examination of decellularized VPNS and analysis of the DNA content demonstrated cell and antigen clearance. ECM content and structures of the nerve fascicles were preserved. Detailed 3D characterization of the VPNS's vasculature was conducted using micro-computed tomography (microCT)-based imaging approach and showed optimal vasculature preservation down to the capillary level. Cytokines quantification demonstrated a strong preservation of growth factors and reduced preservation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Reendothelialization experiments showed PAEC viability and engraftment with repopulation of the scaffold's vessels.

This study shows that perfusion-decellularization can be used to generate vascularized nerve scaffolds with preserved ECM structure and a functional vascular tree, which can be reendothelialized in vitro. As compared to non-vascularized conduits, vascularized engineered nerve scaffolds may represent an ideal approach for promoting better nerve regeneration in larger nerve defect reconstructions.