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J Reconstr Microsurg 2018; 34(02): 130-137
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1607322
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Pattern of Bone Generation after Irradiation in Vascularized Tissue Engineered Constructs

Ahmad Eweida   *
1   Head, Neck and Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
2   Department of Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, University of Heidelberg, Ludwigshafen, Germany
,
Ibrahim Fathi   *
1   Head, Neck and Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
,
Ahmed M. Eltawila
3   Department of Materials Science, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
,
Ahmad M. Elsherif
1   Head, Neck and Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
,
Yasser Elkerm
4   Department of Radiation and Clinical Oncology, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
,
Leila Harhaus
2   Department of Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, University of Heidelberg, Ludwigshafen, Germany
,
Ulrich Kneser
2   Department of Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, University of Heidelberg, Ludwigshafen, Germany
,
Mahmoud F. Sakr
1   Head, Neck and Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

19 June 2017

24 August 2017

Publication Date:
30 October 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Background Regenerative medicine modalities provide promising alternatives to conventional reconstruction techniques but are still deficient after malignant tumor excision or irradiation due to defective vascularization.

Methods We investigated the pattern of bone formation in axially vascularized tissue engineering constructs (AVTECs) after irradiation in a study that mimics the clinical scenario after head and neck cancer. Heterotopic bone generation was induced in a subcutaneously implanted AVTEC in the thigh of six male New Zealand rabbits. The tissue construct was made up of Nanobone (Artoss GmbH; Rostock, Germany) granules mixed with autogenous bone marrow and 80 μL of bone morphogenic protein-2 at a concentration of 1.5 μg/μL. An arteriovenous loop was created microsurgically between the saphenous vessels and implanted in the core of the construct to induce axial vascularization. The constructs were subjected to external beam irradiation on postoperative day 20 with a single dose of 15 Gy. The constructs were removed 20 days after irradiation and subjected to histological and immunohistochemical analysis for vascularization, bone formation, apoptosis, and cellular proliferation.

Results The vascularized constructs showed homogenous vascularization and bone formation both in their central and peripheral regions. Although vascularity, proliferation, and apoptosis were similar between central and peripheral regions of the constructs, significantly more bone was formed in the central regions of the constructs.

Conclusion The study shows for the first time the pattern of bone formation in AVTECs after irradiation using doses comparable to those applied after head and neck cancer. Axial vascularization probably enhances the osteoinductive properties in the central regions of AVTECs after irradiation.

Keywords

bone regeneration - irradiation - tissue engineering - regenerative medicine - axial vascularization

* Both these authors have contributed equally to the article.