Abstract
Background
Cell-derived sheets are of global interest for regenerative therapy. Transplanting a sheet for abdominal organs requires a device for laparoscopic delivery to minimize invasiveness. Here, using a porcine model, we aimed to confirm the feasibility of a device developed to deliver sheets to the thoracic cavity in a laparoscopic transplantation procedure.
Material and methods
We used the device to transplant human skeletal myoblast cell sheets onto the liver and measured extra-corporeal, intra-abdominal, and total procedure times for sheet transplantation. Tissues, including the liver and the sheet, were collected two days after transplantation and analyzed histologically.
Results
In all experiments (n = 27), all sheets were successfully placed at target locations. The mean (± standard deviation) extra-corporeal, intra-abdominal, and total procedure times were 44 ± 29, 33 ± 12, and 77 ± 36 s, respectively. We found no difference between the two surgeons in procedure times. Histological analyses showed no liver damage with the transplantation and that sheets were transplanted closely onto the liver tissue without gaps.
Conclusion
We confirmed the feasibility of a simple universal device to transplant cell-derived sheets via laparoscopic surgery. This device could support a minimally invasive procedure for sheet transplantation.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank all of the doctors and participants in the study.
Disclosure statement
Shogo Kobayashi received honoraria and speaker fees from AstraZeneca, Ethicon Inc., Intuitive, Olympus, and Taiho Pharmaceutical.
Data availability statement
The data used in this study are available from the corresponding authors on reasonable request.