Abstract
Objective To investigate the feasibility of tissue- engineered tracheal cartilage generated from rabbit tracheal chondrocytes using N- carboxyethylchitosan/hydroxyapatite (NCECS/HA)scaffold. Methods The NCECS/HA foam scaffold was prepared by vacuum freeze-drying. Samples of rabbit tracheal cartilage were obtained from a 6-month-old rabbit, and digested with 0.2% collagenase type Ⅱ. The third-passage chondrocytes were seeded onto the three-dimensional NCECS/HA scaffold. After 5 days of culture in 24-well plates, the tissue engineered cartilages were placed subcutaneously in a nude rat, and was extracted after 8 weeks. HE staining, collagenase type Ⅱ immunohistostaining and toluidine blue staining of the extracted cartilage were respectively performed, so as to observe the matrixes secreted on the scaffold.Results Eight weeks later, the tissue engineered tracheal cartilage showed a pearly opalescence. Toluidine blue staining and collagenase type Ⅱ staining revealed that the chondrocytes from cell-stent compounds could secrete GAG and type Ⅱ collagen as does natural tracheal cartilage. Conclusion Biomaterial NCECS/HA has a good biocompatibility with rabbit chondrocytes and may be used as bio-engineered stent. Key words: Tissue engineering; Chondrocytes; Chitosan; Hydroxyapatite; N -carboxyethylchitosan
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