Automated Assessment of Cell Infiltration and Removal in Decellularized Scaffolds – Experimental Study in Rabbits

Abstract Objective Semiquantitative and automated measurement of nuclear material removal and cell infiltration in decellularized tendon scaffolds (DTSs). Method 16 pure New Zealand rabbits were used, and the gastrocnemius muscle tendon was collected bilaterally from half of these animals (16 tendons collected); 4 were kept as control and 12 were submitted to the decellularization protocol (DTS). Eight of the DTSs were used as an in vivo implant in the experimental rotator cuff tear (RCT) model, and the rest, as well as the controls, were used in the semiquantitative and automated evaluation of nuclear material removal. The eight additional rabbits were used to make the experimental model of RCT and subsequent evaluation of cellular infiltration after 2 or 8 weeks, within the DTS. Results The semiquantitative and automated analysis used demonstrated a removal of 79% of nuclear material (p< 0.001 and power > 99%) and a decrease of 88% (p < 0.001 and power >99%) in the area occupied by nuclear material after the decellularization protocol. On cell infiltration in DTS, an increase of 256% (p < 0.001 and power >99%) in the number of cells within the DTS was observed in the comparison between 2 and 8 weeks postoperatively. Conclusion The proposed semiquantitative and automated measurement method was able to objectively measure the removal of nuclear material and cell infiltration in DTS.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Santos,Alex de Lima, Silva,Camila Gonzaga da, Barreto,Leticia Siqueira de Sá, Tamaoki,Marcel Jun Sugawara, Almeida,Fernando Gonçalves de, Faloppa,Flavio
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia 2022
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-36162022000600992
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