A New Method for Preparation of Decellularized Human Scaffolds for Facial Reconstruction

Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) has emerged as a robust alternative for addressing anatomically complex defects but requires a toxic lifelong immunosuppressive regimen. Tissue engineering offers the promise of creating recipient-specific alternative grafts using a decellularization...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elise Lupon, Aylin Acun, Alec R. Andrews, Ruben Oganesyan, Hyshem H. Lancia, Laurent Lantieri, Mark A. Randolph, Curtis L. Cetrulo, Alexandre G. Lellouch, Basak E. Uygun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Current Issues in Molecular Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/4/275
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850144536818352128
author Elise Lupon
Aylin Acun
Alec R. Andrews
Ruben Oganesyan
Hyshem H. Lancia
Laurent Lantieri
Mark A. Randolph
Curtis L. Cetrulo
Alexandre G. Lellouch
Basak E. Uygun
author_facet Elise Lupon
Aylin Acun
Alec R. Andrews
Ruben Oganesyan
Hyshem H. Lancia
Laurent Lantieri
Mark A. Randolph
Curtis L. Cetrulo
Alexandre G. Lellouch
Basak E. Uygun
author_sort Elise Lupon
collection DOAJ
description Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) has emerged as a robust alternative for addressing anatomically complex defects but requires a toxic lifelong immunosuppressive regimen. Tissue engineering offers the promise of creating recipient-specific alternative grafts using a decellularization and recellularization approach. In this article, we establish a reliable protocol for human face decellularization by immersion as a new tool in the development of engineered graft alternatives for reconstructive surgery. Three cadaveric face grafts were immersed in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate for 216 h followed by 1% Triton X-100 for 48 h, without perfusion through the pedicle. We determined that decellularization was successfully accomplished for three facial specimens as confirmed by histological evaluation and quantification of DNA content. The extracellular components including collagen, glycosaminoglycans, elastin, and matrix-bound growth factors were preserved. Vascular architecture did not show significant differences between native and decellularized grafts as imaged by X-ray angiography. The mechanical strength of the grafts was not altered after decellularization. We also showed that the decellularized grafts were biocompatible in vitro and in vivo allowing cell engraftment. As a result, we have successfully developed a protocol to yield a clinical size decellularized graft suitable for generating a recellularized, potentially non-immunogenic graft for facial reconstruction.
format Article
id doaj-art-c78b00c7fedb446aada78dd5a996f14b
institution OA Journals
issn 1467-3037
1467-3045
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Current Issues in Molecular Biology
spelling doaj-art-c78b00c7fedb446aada78dd5a996f14b2025-08-20T02:28:19ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452025-04-0147427510.3390/cimb47040275A New Method for Preparation of Decellularized Human Scaffolds for Facial ReconstructionElise Lupon0Aylin Acun1Alec R. Andrews2Ruben Oganesyan3Hyshem H. Lancia4Laurent Lantieri5Mark A. Randolph6Curtis L. Cetrulo7Alexandre G. Lellouch8Basak E. Uygun9Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institut Universitaire Locomoteur et du Sport, Pasteur 2 Hospital, University Côte d’Azur, 06107 Nice, FranceShriners Children’s Boston, Boston, MA 02114, USAVascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USAShriners Children’s Boston, Boston, MA 02114, USAVascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USAService de Chirurgie Plastique et Reconstructrice, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, 75015 Paris, FranceVascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USAVascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USAVascularized Composite Allotransplantation Laboratory, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USAShriners Children’s Boston, Boston, MA 02114, USAVascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) has emerged as a robust alternative for addressing anatomically complex defects but requires a toxic lifelong immunosuppressive regimen. Tissue engineering offers the promise of creating recipient-specific alternative grafts using a decellularization and recellularization approach. In this article, we establish a reliable protocol for human face decellularization by immersion as a new tool in the development of engineered graft alternatives for reconstructive surgery. Three cadaveric face grafts were immersed in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate for 216 h followed by 1% Triton X-100 for 48 h, without perfusion through the pedicle. We determined that decellularization was successfully accomplished for three facial specimens as confirmed by histological evaluation and quantification of DNA content. The extracellular components including collagen, glycosaminoglycans, elastin, and matrix-bound growth factors were preserved. Vascular architecture did not show significant differences between native and decellularized grafts as imaged by X-ray angiography. The mechanical strength of the grafts was not altered after decellularization. We also showed that the decellularized grafts were biocompatible in vitro and in vivo allowing cell engraftment. As a result, we have successfully developed a protocol to yield a clinical size decellularized graft suitable for generating a recellularized, potentially non-immunogenic graft for facial reconstruction.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/4/275decellularizationrecellularizationvascularized composite allotransplantationfacial reconstructionregenerative medicinescaffold
spellingShingle Elise Lupon
Aylin Acun
Alec R. Andrews
Ruben Oganesyan
Hyshem H. Lancia
Laurent Lantieri
Mark A. Randolph
Curtis L. Cetrulo
Alexandre G. Lellouch
Basak E. Uygun
A New Method for Preparation of Decellularized Human Scaffolds for Facial Reconstruction
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
decellularization
recellularization
vascularized composite allotransplantation
facial reconstruction
regenerative medicine
scaffold
title A New Method for Preparation of Decellularized Human Scaffolds for Facial Reconstruction
title_full A New Method for Preparation of Decellularized Human Scaffolds for Facial Reconstruction
title_fullStr A New Method for Preparation of Decellularized Human Scaffolds for Facial Reconstruction
title_full_unstemmed A New Method for Preparation of Decellularized Human Scaffolds for Facial Reconstruction
title_short A New Method for Preparation of Decellularized Human Scaffolds for Facial Reconstruction
title_sort new method for preparation of decellularized human scaffolds for facial reconstruction
topic decellularization
recellularization
vascularized composite allotransplantation
facial reconstruction
regenerative medicine
scaffold
url https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/4/275
work_keys_str_mv AT eliselupon anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT aylinacun anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT alecrandrews anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT rubenoganesyan anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT hyshemhlancia anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT laurentlantieri anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT markarandolph anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT curtislcetrulo anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT alexandreglellouch anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT basakeuygun anewmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT eliselupon newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT aylinacun newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT alecrandrews newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT rubenoganesyan newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT hyshemhlancia newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT laurentlantieri newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT markarandolph newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT curtislcetrulo newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT alexandreglellouch newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction
AT basakeuygun newmethodforpreparationofdecellularizedhumanscaffoldsforfacialreconstruction