Application of a laparoscopic device for cell-derived sheet transplantation on the liver in a porcine model

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.

Keywords:

• Sheet transplantation
• device
• laparoscopic surgery

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.

Additional information

Funding

Keisuke Toya, Yoshito Yomimaru, Shogo Kobayashi, Kazuki Sasaki, Yoshifumi Iwagami, Daisaku Yamada, Takehiro Noda, Hidenori Takahashi, Yuichiro Doki, and Hidetoshi Eguchi received funding support for cooperative research from Terumo Corporation. Koichi Hayakawa, Isamu Matsuda, and Takahiro Naka are employees of Terumo Corporation.