Secondary lymphedema is a severe complication of cancer treatment, but there is no effective curative method yet. Lymph node dissection and radiation therapy for cancer treatment may lead to secondary lymphedema, which is a chronic disease induced by malfunction of lymphatic flow. The lymphatic channel sheet (LCS) is an artificial micro-fluidic structure that was fabricated with polydimethylsiloxane to maintain lymphatic flow and induce lymphangiogenesis. The structure has two-dimensional multichannels that increase the probability of lymphangiogenesis and allow for relatively easy application. We verified the efficacy of the lymphatic channel sheet through macroscopic and microscopic observation in small animal models, which underwent brachial lymph node dissection and irradiation. The lymphatic channel sheet enabled the successful transport of lymphatic fluid from the distal to the proximal area in place of the removed brachial lymph nodes. It prevented swelling and abnormal lymphatic drainage during the follow-up period. Lymphangiogenesis was also identified inside the channel by histological analysis after 8 weeks. According to these experimental results, we attest to the roles of the lymphatic channel sheet as a lymphatic pathway and scaffold in the rat upper limb model of secondary lymphedema. The lymphatic channel sheet maintained lymphatic flow after lymph node dissection and irradiation in an environment where lymph flow is cut off. It also relieved symptoms of secondary lymphedema by providing a lymph-friendly space and inducing lymphangiogenesis.

中文翻译：

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预防大鼠上肢模型继发性淋巴水肿的聚二甲基硅氧烷淋巴道片


继发性淋巴水肿是癌症治疗的严重并发症，但目前尚无有效的治疗方法。用于癌症治疗的淋巴结清扫和放射治疗可能会导致继发性淋巴水肿，这是一种由淋巴液流动障碍引起的慢性疾病。淋巴通道片（LCS）是一种人工微流体结构，由聚二甲基硅氧烷制成，用于维持淋巴流动并诱导淋巴管生成。该结构具有二维多通道，增加了淋巴管生成的可能性，并且应用相对容易。我们通过对小动物模型的宏观和微观观察验证了淋巴通道片的功效，这些动物模型进行了臂淋巴结清扫和照射。淋巴通道片能够将淋巴液从远端成功输送到近端区域，以代替切除的肱淋巴结。它在随访期间防止了肿胀和异常的淋巴引流。 8周后通过组织学分析还确定了通道内的淋巴管生成。根据这些实验结果，我们证明了淋巴通道片在继发性淋巴水肿大鼠上肢模型中作为淋巴通路和支架的作用。淋巴通道片在淋巴结清扫和照射后在淋巴流动被切断的环境中维持淋巴流动。它还通过提供有利于淋巴的空间并诱导淋巴管生成来缓解继发性淋巴水肿的症状。