Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of periodontal tissue, including alveolar bone, cementum, and well-
oriented collagen fibers. The therapeutic effects of PDL cell sheets
are higher than those of iliac bone marrow mesenchymal stromal
cell sheets or alveolar periosteal cell sheets, indicating that PDL cells
are the most suitable cell source for periodontal regeneration. Thus,
PDL cell sheets have an enormous potential for the regeneration/
replacement of lost periodontal tissue and prevention of tooth loss.
A clinical trial using autologous PDL cell sheets for periodontal
tissue regeneration has been started.
4b.3.4
Epithelial Cell Sheets for Esophageal
Regeneration after ESD
Recently, endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal
dissection (ESD) techniques have become remarkably developed
[38-41]. While these techniques enable the effective removal of
early cancers of the gastrointestinal tract without open surgery, the
resection of cancerous epithelial/mucosal tissues may lead to the
removal of normal epithelial barrier function in the operated areas.
Deficiency of the epithelial barrier function may induce postoperative
inflammation and severe stenosis [42, 43]. Our laboratory has
developed a novel method combining ESD with endoscopic
transplantation of autologous oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets for
abating these postoperative conditions and increasing the patient's
quality of life [44]. Oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets will adhere
directly to the esophageal ulcer using endoscopic forceps, without
suturing, and they successfully substitute for the lost epithelial
barrier. The transplanted cells survive and provide an intact
stratified epithelium, and cell sheet transplantation significantly
accelerates post-ESD wound healing and abates stenosis. A clinical
trial using autologous oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets for abating
postoperative esophageal ulceration/stenosis is now underway.
4b.3.5
Chondrocyte Sheets for Articular Cartilage
Repair/Regeneration
While articular cartilage is rich in the ECM, including collagen
networks and proteoglycans, and highly resistant to mechanical
loads, the tissue has poor ability for self-repair after degeneration/
injury, because it has limited blood supply and low cell density. Thus,
