Abstract: Objective To explore the feasibility of laser drilling decellularized trachea matrix(LDTM)inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)for constructing tissue-engineered tracheal cartilage in rabbits.Methods LDTM was fabricated by laser drilling and decellularization technique.BMSCs were harvested from bone marrow of rabbits and cultured in vitro.After the expanded cells were seeded onto the scaffolds,the cell-scaffold constructs were implanted into the subcutaneous of rabbits.Gross observation,histological observation and quantitative evaluation of neocartilage test were carried out after cultured for 12 weeks in vivo.Results The cells were evenly distributed into micropores and surface of the scaffold,and the construct maintained the original tubular structure with a flexible white cartilage-like tissue.HE staining showed typical mature lacuna,suggesting the formation of mature cartilage tissue.Safranin-O staining showed abundant proteoglycan.Biomechanical and biochemistry analyses indicated that neocartilage was close to or even better than native trachea cartilage.Conclusion LDTM promote cartilage regeneration and can induce BMSCs to construct tissue-engineered tracheal cartilage in rabbits.

Key words: Laser drilling, Decellularized matrix, Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, Cartilage regeneration, Tissue-engineered trachea