Procurement and Perfusion-Decellularization of Porcine Vascularized Flaps in a Customized Perfusion Bioreactor

This method describes the surgical procurement of three vascularized porcine flaps and their subsequent perfusion decellularization. This method can aid efforts to regenerate porcine flaps using a tissue decellularization and recellularization approach. The main advantage of this technique is its versatility to achieve profusion decellularization across a variety of vascularized porcine flaps in a simple to assemble bioreactor setup.

The technique described here can be broadly applied to other vascularized flaps as a potential tissue engineering solution using porcine flaps in reconstructive surgery. To begin, make an inflow and outflow tubing by measuring approximately 50 centimeters of LS16 platinum-coated silicone tubing. Connect one end to a yellow 3-stop pump tubing and the other to a sterile 2 milliliter serological pipette to carry perfusate from the detergent reservoirs into the bioreactor chamber.