Three-dimensional printing has come into the spotlight in the realm of tissue engineering. We intended to evaluate the plausibility of 3D-printed (3DP) scaffold coated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded in fibrin for the repair of partial tracheal defects. MSCs from rabbit bone marrow were expanded and cultured. A halfpipe-shaped 3DP polycaprolactone scaffold was coated with the MSCs seeded in fibrin. The half-pipe tracheal graft was implanted on a 10 × 10-mm artificial tracheal defect in four rabbits. Four and eight weeks after the operation, the reconstructed sites were evaluated bronchoscopically, radiologically, histologically, and functionally. None of the four rabbits showed any sign of respiratory distress. Endoscopic examination and computed tomography showed successful reconstruction of trachea without any collapse or blockage. The replaced tracheas were completely covered with regenerated respiratory mucosa. Histologic analysis showed that the implanted 3DP tracheal grafts were successfully integrated with the adjacent trachea without disruption or granulation tissue formation. Neocartilage formation inside the implanted graft was sufficient to maintain the patency of the reconstructed trachea. Scanning electron microscope examination confirmed the regeneration of the cilia, and beating frequency of regenerated cilia was not different from those of the normal adjacent mucosa. The shape and function of reconstructed trachea using 3DP scaffold coated with MSCs seeded in fibrin were restored successfully without any graft rejection.

Recent progress in the understanding non-thermal plasma (NTP) properties prompted its application in the treatment of various diseases. However, therapeutic effect of NTP on keloid cells has not been reported previously. We sought to investigate the effect of NTP treatment on keloid by comparing cell migration and collagen production of keloid (KFs) and normal fibroblasts (NFs) and determined the regulatory pathways involved. We assessed NTP effects on cell migration in KFs and NFs by the wound healing assay and measured the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), and collagen by western blot. Expression of the transforming growth factor-β and Type I collagen following NTP treatment was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence staining, and the Sircol collagen assay. NTP treatment increased cell migration and collagen production of NFs. However, it reduced these parameters in KFs. NTP reduced the expression of EGFR, STAT3, and Type I collagen in KFs but increased their levels in NFs. We revealed that NTP suppressed KF cell migration via down-regulation of EGFR and STAT3 and reduced collagen production via supressing transforming growth factor-β. Our data suggest that NTP may be a new therapeutic strategy for keloids.

Tissue engineering using a biocompatible scaffold with various cells might be a solution for tracheal reconstruction. We investigated the plausibility of using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded on a porcine cartilage powder (PCP) scaffold for tracheal defect repair. PCP made with minced and decellularized porcine articular cartilage was molded into a 5 × 12 mm (height × diameter) scaffold. MSCs from young rabbit bone marrow were expanded and cultured with the PCP scaffold. After 7 weeks culture, the tracheal implants were transplanted on a 5 × 10 mm tracheal defect in six rabbits. 6 and 10 weeks postoperatively, the implanted area was evaluated. None of the six rabbits showed any sign of respiratory distress. Endoscopic examination revealed that respiratory epithelium completely covered the regenerated trachea and there were no signs of collapse or blockage. A patent luminal contour of the trachea was observed on the computed tomography scan in all six rabbits and the reconstructed areas were not narrow compared to normal adjacent trachea. Histologic examination showed that neo-cartilage was successfully produced with minimal inflammation or granulation tissue. Ciliary beating frequency of the regenerated epithelium was not significantly different from the normal adjacent mucosa. MSCs cultured with a PCP scaffold successfully restored not only the shape but also the function of the trachea without any graft rejection.

Use of the 3DP scaffold coated with MSCs seeded in fibrin resulted in successful restoration of the shape and histology of the cervical oesophagus without any graft rejection; thus, this is a promising material for use as an artificial oesophagus.

Reconstruction of trachea is still a clinical dilemma. Tissue engineering is a recent and promising concept to resolve this problem. This study evaluated the feasibility of allogeneic chondrocytes cultured with fibrin/hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel and degradable porous poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold for partial tracheal reconstruction. Chondrocytes from rabbit articular cartilage were expanded and cultured with fibrin/HA hydrogel and injected into a 5 × 10 mm-sized, curved patch-shape PLGA scaffold. After 4 weeks in vitro culture, the scaffold was implanted on a tracheal defect in eight rabbits. Six and 10 weeks postoperatively, the implanted sites were evaluated by bronchoscope and radiologic and histologic analyses. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of regenerated epithelium was also evaluated. None of the eight rabbits showed any sign of respiratory distress. Bronchoscopic examination did not reveal stenosis of the reconstructed trachea and the defects were completely recovered with respiratory epithelium. Computed tomography scan showed good luminal contour of trachea. Histologic data showed that the implanted chondrocytes successfully formed neocartilage with minimal granulation tissue. CBF of regenerated epithelium was similar to that of normal epithelium. Partial tracheal defect was successfully reconstructed anatomically and functionally using allogeneic chondrocytes cultured with PLGA-fibrin/HA composite scaffold.