Magnetic Tissue Engineering for Voice Rehabilitation - First Steps in a Promising Field.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The voice is one of the most important instruments of communication between humans. It is the product of intact and well-working vocal folds. A defect of these structures causes dysphonia, associated with a clear reduction of quality of life. Tissue engineering of the vocal folds utilizing magnetic cell levitation after nanoparticle loading might be a technique to overcome this challenging problem.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Vocal fold fibroblasts (VFFs) were isolated from rabbit larynges and cultured. For magnetization, cells were incubated with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) and the loading efficiency was determined by Prussian blue staining. Biocompatibility was analyzed in flow cytometry by staining with annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate propidium iodide, 1,1',3,3,3',3'-hexamethylindodicarbo-cyanine iodide [DiIC1(5)] and propidium idodide-Triton X-100 to monitor phosphatidylserine exposure, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA degradation.

RESULTS

Isolated VFFs can be successfully loaded with SPION, and optimal iron loading associated with minimized cytotoxicity represents a balancing act in magnetic tissue engineering.

CONCLUSION

Our data are a firm basis for the next steps of investigations. Magnetic tissue engineering using magnetic nanoparticle-loaded cells which form three-dimensional structures in a magnetic field will be a promising approach in the future.