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Objective: Short bowel syndrome is defined as decreased functional small intestine due to surgical intervention or in rare cases pathophysiologic dysfunction. Since intestinal transplantation is often not a therapeutic option, alternative sources of material for intestinal repair and replacement are needed. We present the feasibility of using a three-dimensional (3D) bioprinter to manufacture intestinal patches.
Design: Patches were printed on an Organovo MMX 3D bioprinter using rat vascular smooth muscle and fibroblast cells suspended in a hyaluronic acid and gelatin matrix. Patches were used to repair enterotomies of rat small and large intestine using cyanoacrylate surgical adhesive. The segments were perfused both apically and basolaterally to assess for integrity and stability.
Setting: This study was conducted in a BSL-2 laboratory and appropriate animal facilities.
Patients: Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this project. No human subjects or cells were involved.
Interventions: Large and small intestinal enterotomy patch repair
Main Outcome Measures: Patch repairs are inspected for gross evidence of failure. Repair integrity is evaluated by assessing for leakage of a fluorescent dye into the extraluminal space.
Results: Enterotomies were easily closed using biopatches and cyanoacrylate sealant, with no evidence of gross defect. Luminal integrity was demonstrated by no leakage of fluorescent tracer up to flow rates of 6-15 mL/min, which represent supraphysiologic transit rates.
Conclusions: Bioprinted intestinal patches can successfully seal enterotomies in vitro and tolerate supraphysiologic transit rates, making them promising candidates for in vivo repair of intestinal defects.