Improved chondrogenic performance with protective tracheal design of Chitosan membrane surrounding 3D-printed trachea

• Authors: Hyeomji Kim, Pohang University of Science and Technology; Jae Yeon Lee, Daegu Haany University; Hyeonseok Han, Pohang University of Science and Technology; Won-Won Cho, Pohang University of Science and Technology; Hohyeon Han, Pohang University of Science and Technology; Andrew Choi, Pohang University of Science and Technology; Hyeonjun Hong, Pohang University of Science and Technology; Jae Yun Kim, Pohang University of Science and Technology; Jeong H Park, Emory University; Sun Hwa Park, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine; Sung Won Kim, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine; Dong Sung Kim, Pohang University of Science and Technology; Dong-Woo Cho, Pohang University of Science and Technology
• Journal Title: Scientific Reports
• Volume: Volume 11, Number 1
• Publisher: Springer Nature | 2021-12-01, Pages 9258-9258
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88830-3
• Subjects: Engineering, Biomedical
• Keywords: Animals; Chitosan; Chondrocytes; Chondrogenesis; Humans; Male; Polyesters; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds; Trachea

Abstract

In recent tracheal tissue engineering, limitations in cartilage reconstruction, caused by immature delivery of chondrocyte-laden components, have been reported beyond the complete epithelialization and integration of the tracheal substitutes with the host tissue. In an attempt to overcome such limitations, this article introduces a protective design of tissue-engineered trachea (TraCHIM) composed of a chitosan-based nanofiber membrane (CHIM) and a 3D-printed biotracheal construct. The CHIM was created from chitosan and polycaprolactone (PCL) using an electrospinning process. Upon addition of chitosan to PCL, the diameter of electrospun fibers became thinner, allowing them to be stacked more closely, thereby improving its mechanical properties. Chitosan also enhances the hydrophilicity of the membranes, preventing them from slipping and delaminating over the cell-laden bioink of the biotracheal graft, as well as protecting the construct. Two weeks after implantation in Sprague–Dawley male rats, the group with the TraCHIM exhibited a higher number of chondrocytes, with enhanced chondrogenic performance, than the control group without the membrane. This study successfully demonstrates enhanced chondrogenic performance of TraCHIM in vivo. The protective design of TraCHIM opens a new avenue in engineered tissue research, which requires faster tissue formation from 3D biodegradable materials, to achieve complete replacement of diseased tissue.