OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility to fabricate a blood vessel scaffold with a combined polymer for tissue engineering.

METHODSA blood vessel scaffold was designed with a combined polymer composed of rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs), collagen and a non-spinning fabric mesh of polyglycolic acid (PGA). VSMCs were implanted into collagen gel and their growth was observed. The mixed solution of VSMCs and collagen was dropped into the tubular scaffold, followed by 7-day culturing.

RESULTSVSMCs formed many prominences after culturing in gelatinous collagen for 3-4 hours. With cells extending, some cells became shuttle- or spindle-shaped. After VSMCs-collagen complex was implanted into the PGA mesh, most of VSMCs remained in the pore of PGA mesh with the formation of gelation. VSMCs could adhere to and grow on the PGA fiber.

CONCLUSIONThe non-spinning PGA porous biodegradable material coated with collagen is a good carrier for VSMCs to adhere and grow.

Animals ; Blood Vessels ; growth & development ; Collagen ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; growth & development ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Polymers ; Rabbits ; Time Factors ; Tissue Engineering ; instrumentation ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

【Objective】 To investigate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and explore the feasibility of hydrogel embedded histoculture drug sensitivity test(HDST) use in selecting chemotherapy regiments for ovarian cancer. 【Methods】 We performed a retrospective analysis of 11 patients with advanced ovarian cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy as recommended by NCCN guidelines at the department of gynaecological oncology in Sun Yatsen Memorial Hospital. Demographics, clinical data and tissue specimens were collected from patient charts. The patients were grouped according to the HDST results. We compared the differences between groups in the total decline rate of CA125, HE4 and Fagotti scores and analyzed their relationship with HDST results. 【Results】 HDST results showed that 6 patients were not sensitive to the selected platinum drugs(cisplatin or carboplatin) and 1 patient not sensitive to paclitaxel. After 3 times of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the patients presented a significantly successive decrease in the levels of tumor markers. HDST results were consistent with the clinical efficacy(Kappa=1.000, P<0.05), with 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 100% Youden's index. There was a significant positive correlation between changes in Fagotti' sscores and effective rate of HDST(rs=0.678, P<0.05), while no correlation between the total decline rate of CA125 and HE4 and effective rate of HDST(P>0.05) . 【Conclusions】 HDST is fast, convenient and economical in helping select neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Additionally, with its consistency with the clinical efficacy, HDST is expected to provide an accurate individualized chemotherapy for patients with ovarian cancer.