RECELLULARIZED ABDOMINAL WALL FREE FLAP BIOINTEGRATION: PROSPECTIVE OF AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL

INTRODUCTION: Synthetic or semi-synthetic scaffold are often insufficient to allow a satisfactory bio integration. In our experience a decellularized tissue from cadaver could provide a 3d scaffold with performed vascular network that could allow a long term survival of the graft once implanted in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbits abdominal wall samples were decellularized with a modified protocol for adipose tissue. At each step samples were collected for histological and immunohistochemical assessment of the protocol effectiveness. RESULTS: Histological and IHC samples showed effective cell removal with preservation of ECM structure and composition. Integrity of vascular channels was maintained. CONCLUSIONS: In the future we hope to be able to prepare different kinds of homo-autologous free flaps ,suitable for microsurgery anastomosis, derived from homologous tissue and recellularized with autologous stem cells, solving the problem of comorbidity, rejection and about the number (bank concept).