Construct of asymmetrical scaffold and primary cells for tissue engineered esophagus

Porous polymeric scaffolds have been widely employed as analogues of native extracellular matrix to create a living construct that would mimic the complexities of human tissue function in the field of tissue engineering. An asymmetrical porous 3-D substitute to be used as a scaffold for tissue engineered esophagus was fabricated using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method. The scaffold in which there are pores with 1–10 µm diameter on one side and ≥ 50–100 µm size on the other side and in the bulk was designed to mimic the mucosa constitute that is the most important functional layer of a normal esophagus. The cell and scaffold construct was evaluated using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining as well as fluorescein diacetate (FDA) viable cell staining. It was found for the scaffold to be able to support the growth of primary esophageal epithelial cells on the side with micropores and fibroblasts in the scaffold bulk with large pores and good connectivity. A confluent layer of epithelial cells was observed throughout the surface with micropores, with multilayer of cells found at some locations. Clusters of fibroblasts were found on the other side as well as within the bulk of the scaffold.