Utilization of an Acellular Cartilage Matrix-Based Photocrosslinking Hydrogel for Tracheal Cartilage Regeneration and Circumferential Tracheal Repair (vol 31, 2201257, 2022)

Acellular cartilage matrix (ACM)-based hydrogels hold promise for use in the context of tracheal cartilage regeneration owing to the ease with which they can be molded into specific shapes and their intrinsic cartilage-specific microenvironmental properties. In this report, an acrylic anhydride-modified ACM (Ac-matrix) hydrogel is fabricated for utilization in the context of tracheal cartilage regeneration and circumferential tracheal repair. Hydrogels are successfully prepared with a range of Ac-matrix concentrations (4%, 6%, and 8%) and found that mechanical strength increases with rising Ac-matrix concentrations whereas swelling and degradation ratio values decline. These Ac-matrix hydrogels exhibit satisfactory cytocompatibility when loaded with chondrocytes. Chondrocyte-loaded 6% hydrogels are able to support cartilage formation both in vitro and in vivo across a range of chondrocyte densities (5, 10, 20, and 40 million chondrocytes per mL), with increasing density being conducive to more homogenous cartilage formation. A homogeneously tubular tracheal cartilage construct is additionally generated and supports circumferential tracheal reconstruction in a rabbit tracheal lesion model system, with a biological structure and function consistent with those of the native trachea. These results suggest that this Ac-matrix hydrogel platform is well-suited to use in the context of tracheal cartilage regeneration, thus offering the potential to support circumferential tracheal reconstruction.