Tracheal tissue-engineering: in-vivo biocompatibility of mechanically-stripped allogenic rabbit trachea with autologous epithelial covering KU Leuven
BACKGROUND: Successful trachea transplantation comprises the use of biocompatible constructs with little immune-reactivity, submucosal revascularization and creation of an epithelial covering. Allogenic chondrocytes might be protected from an overt immune-response due to physical isolation. Our aim was to evaluate in-vivo biocompatibility of allotracheae, stripped of their highly-immunogenic inner lining. Secondly, we established whether these ...