Development and Characterization of a Porcine Liver Scaffold.

The growing number of patients requiring liver transplantation for chronic liver disease cannot be currently met due to a shortage in donor tissue. As such, alternative tissue engineering approaches combining the use of acellular biological scaffolds and different cell populations (hepatic or progenitor) are being explored to augment the demand for functional organs. Our goal was to produce a clinically relevant sized scaffold from a sustainable source within 24 h, while preserving the extracellular matrix (ECM) to facilitate cell repopulation at a later stage.

Stem Cell-Based Tissue-Engineered Laryngeal Replacement.

Patients with laryngeal disorders may have severe morbidity relating to swallowing, vocalization, and respiratory function, for which conventional therapies are suboptimal. A tissue-engineered approach would aim to restore the vocal folds and maintain respiratory function while limiting the extent of scarring in the regenerated tissue. Under Good Laboratory Practice conditions, we decellularized porcine larynges, using detergents and enzymes under negative pressure to produce an acellular scaffold comprising cartilage, muscle, and mucosa.

Effect of crosslinking on the performance of a collagen-derived biomaterial as an implant for soft tissue repair: a rodent model.

One of the main problems in healthcare is the loss of tissues resulting from diseases, post-surgery complications or trauma. As a result there is a need for biomaterials designed to promote tissue regeneration and improve wound healing. This study assessed the effect of crosslinking of a porcine dermal collagen matrix with regard to strength of implant/host tissue integration, implant biocompatibility and general healing in a rodent model.

Smooth muscle cells in porcine vein graft intimal hyperplasia are derived from the local vessel wall.

Background: Accelerated intimal hyperplasia (IH) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease treated with bypass vein grafts. We used an interposition vein graft model to determine the source of neointimal cells in a clinically relevant large animal model.

Methods: Jugular vein segments from sex-mismatched, MHC-in-bred pigs were implanted into common carotid arteries bilaterally and harvested up to 8 weeks postsurgery for stereological, histological, and immunofluorescence analyses.

Effect of nanoparticulate bioactive glass particles on bioactivity and cytocompatibility of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites.

This work investigated the effect of adding nanoparticulate (29 nm) bioactive glass particles on the bioactivity, degradation and in vitro cytocompatibility of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)) composites/nano-sized bioactive glass (n-BG). Two different concentrations (10 and 20 wt %) of nanoscale bioactive glass particles of 45S5 Bioglass composition were used to prepare composite films. Several techniques (Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray) were used to monitor their surface and bioreactivity over a 45-day period of immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF).

Use of a novel porcine collagen paste as a dermal substitute in full-thickness wounds.

A commercially available porcine collagen sheet material has been found previously to be useful as an implant for reconstructive surgery. However, its use as a dermal substitute has been hindered by slow cell penetration and vascularization. A novel paste formulation of this material was investigated for its potential role as a dermal substitute in full-thickness wounds.