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Evrard R, Manon J, Rafferty C, Fieve L, Cornu O, Kirchgesner T, Lecouvet FE, Schubert T, Lengele B. Vascular study of decellularized porcine long bones: Characterization of a tissue engineering model. Bone 2024; 182:117073. [PMID: 38493932 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2024.117073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Massive bone allografts enable the reconstruction of critical bone defects in numerous conditions (e.g. tumoral, infection or trauma). Unfortunately, their biological integration remains insufficient and the reconstruction may suffer from several postoperative complications. Perfusion-decellularization emerges as a tissue engineering potential solution to enhance osseointegration. Therefore, an intrinsic vascular study of this novel tissue engineering tool becomes essential to understand its efficacy and applicability. MATERIAL AND METHODS 32 porcine long bones (humeri and femurs) were used to assess the quality of their vascular network prior and after undergoing a perfusion-decellularization protocol. 12 paired bones were used to assess the vascular matrix prior (N = 6) and after our protocol (N = 6) by immunohistochemistry. Collagen IV, Von Willebrand factor and CD31 were targeted then quantified. The medullary macroscopic vascular network was evaluated with 12 bones: 6 were decellularized and the other 6 were, as control, not treated. All 12 underwent a contrast-agent injection through the nutrient artery prior an angio CT-scan acquisition. The images were processed and the length of medullary vessels filled with contrast agent were measured on angiographic cT images obtained in control and decellularized bones by 4 independent observers to evaluate the vascular network preservation. The microscopic cortical vascular network was evaluated on 8 bones: 4 control and 4 decellularized. After injection of gelatinous fluorochrome mixture (calcein green), non-decalcified fluoroscopic microscopy was performed in order to assess the perfusion quality of cortical vascular lacunae. RESULTS The continuity of the microscopic vascular network was assessed with Collagen IV immunohistochemistry (p-value = 0.805) while the decellularization quality was observed through CD31 and Von Willebrand factor immunohistochemistry (p-values <0.001). The macroscopic vascular network was severely impaired after perfusion-decellularization; nutrient arteries were still patent but the amount of medullary vascular channels measured was significantly higher in the control group compared to the decellularized group (p-value <0.001). On average, the observers show good agreement on these results, except in the decellularized group where more inter-observer discrepancies were observed. The microscopic vascular network was observed with green fluoroscopic signal in almost every canals and lacunae of the bone cortices, in three different bone locations (proximal metaphysis, diaphysis and distal metaphysis). CONCLUSION Despite the aggressiveness of the decellularization protocol on medullary vessels, total porcine long bones decellularized by perfusion retain an acellular cortical microvascular network. By injection through the intact nutrient arteries, this latter vascular network can still be used as a total bone infusion access for bone tissue engineering in order to enhance massive bone allografts prior implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Evrard
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Neuro Musculo-Skeletal Lab, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue E. Mounier, 52-B1.52.04, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium; Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium.
| | - J Manon
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Neuro Musculo-Skeletal Lab, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue E. Mounier, 52-B1.52.04, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium; Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - C Rafferty
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Pôle Morphologie, UCLouvain, Avenue E. Mounier, 52-B1.52.04, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - L Fieve
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Pôle Morphologie, UCLouvain, Avenue E. Mounier, 52-B1.52.04, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - O Cornu
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Neuro Musculo-Skeletal Lab, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue E. Mounier, 52-B1.52.04, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium; Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium; Unité de Thérapie Tissulaire et Cellulaire de l'Appareil Locomoteur, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - T Kirchgesner
- Département d'Imagerie Médicale, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (Pôle IMAG), Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - F E Lecouvet
- Département d'Imagerie Médicale, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (Pôle IMAG), Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - T Schubert
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Neuro Musculo-Skeletal Lab, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Avenue E. Mounier, 52-B1.52.04, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium; Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium; Unité de Thérapie Tissulaire et Cellulaire de l'Appareil Locomoteur, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - B Lengele
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Pôle Morphologie, UCLouvain, Avenue E. Mounier, 52-B1.52.04, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium; Service de Chirurgie Plastique, Reconstructrice et Esthétique, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
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