Decellularization technique and storage of tracheal scaffolds in tissue banks

• Grant number: 17/19806-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Francisco Guerreiro Cardoso
• Grantee: Ronaldo Soares da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The definitive surgical tratment for tracheal disorder includes the resection of the afected area, followed by primary reconstruction. However, the surgical tratment is limitated by the maximum possible lenght of the resection (50% of the longitudinal leght of the trachea in adults and 30% in children). The airway transplantation has been studied, as an alternative for those cases in wich resection is not possible. Tracheal allografts are obtained by tissue engineering, wich combines the decellularization of the donor's trachea with subsequent recellularization using the recipient's mesenchymal stem-cell. The decellularization tchnique is considered effective when there is complete removal of both cellular and nuclear material, leaving only the extracellular matrix, which does not generate imunologic response. We have recently validatedan airway decellularization protocol in rabbits, but it hasn't yet been tested on tracheas of other animal species. Furthermore, the safe periods to store the decellularized trachel segment (scaffold) has not been determined. The current study aims to employ the decellularization technique in tracheal segments of murines and swines, assessing the efficiency of the process. Moreover, the integrity, immunogenicity and feasibility of the scaffolds will be avaluated for a period of up to 6 months, during wich they will be stored in the Organ and Tissue Laboratory in INCOR.