Effects of the Human Amniotic Membrane on the Cartilage Graft: Prognosis and Absorption in White Rabbits

Abstract

BACKGROUND Cartilage grafts are generally accepted for the restoration and reconstruction of nasal contours. The main concern that plastic surgeons may need to address after surgery pertains to the resorption and disfigurement of the grafted cartilage, especially in allogenic and heterogenic grafts. METHODS A total of 12 white rabbits were divided into three groups according to the types of graft including autograft, allograft, and heterograft. We used three shapes of grafts, including block, crushed, and diced cartilage in the upper, middle, and lower rows. However, in each rabbit, these grafts were divided into two columns of wrapped and unwrapped grafts, with human amniotic membrane (HAM) grafted on each side of the rabbit’s back. RESULTS In total, 60 specimens underwent histopathological examination. No inflammation was observed in about 50% of the block-shaped conchal cartilages with HAM, and in 50%, less than 25 inflammatory cells per unit were seen. The prognosis and absorption of autograft specimens in block-shaped cartilages with HAM were significantly better compared with other shapes of cartilages with HAM and without HAM. The proliferation rate of fibroblasts in autograft and allograft specimens was more than that in heterograft specimens with HAM. CONCLUSION Our findings have demonstrated the new role of HAM in clinical applications, indicating that HAM may be used as a low-cost, easily accessible alternative for wrapping in cartilage grafts instead of fascia or surgicel in early future. It is useful for improving the long-term outcomes and decreasing the resorption rate.

Bioscaffold developed with decellularized human amniotic membrane seeded with mesenchymal stromal cells: assessment of efficacy and safety profiles in a second-degree burn preclinical model

“…It counts with the presence of important cells of the point of view of regenerative medicine-such as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), and fibroblasts-a wide array of cell growth factors, proteins, proteoglycans and cytokines (Farhadihosseinabadi et al 2018) and secretes peptides with antimicrobial character (Tehrani et al 2017). In the last years, it has been studied for the repair of peripheral nerve defects (Bourgeois et al 2019, Zhang et al 2019, full-thickness skin (Song et al 2017), wound diabetic ulcerations (Paggiaro et al 2018), ophthalmological conditions (Navas et al 2018), burns (Puyana et al 2020), intrauterine adhesion due to endometrial fibrosis (Chen et al 2019), osteoinductive (Tang et al 2018), cartilage grafts (Motamed et al 2019), soft tissue filling (Buday and Ozturk 2019), associated with colistin and silver nanoparticles to treat infected burns in animal model (Wali et al 2022), among others. In addition, its application as a scaffold for cells (Dragúňová et al 2019), as drug-delivery systems (Mencucci et al 2011) and organ-on-chip technology (Richardson et al 2020) are promising for clinical therapies.…”