The photochemical bonding of cell-seeded collagen lattice to muscle layer in rat, was investigated for esophageal tissue engineering. The esophageal epithelial cells of the rat were seeded on collagen lattice and together with the latissimus dorsi muscle layer, were exposed to a photosensitizer rose Bengal at the bonding surface. The photochemical bonding was found to significantly increase the adherence at the bonding interface without compromising the cell viability. The results show integration of the collagen lattice with the muscle layer at the bonding interface although the subsequent surgical manipulation disturbed the integration at some region.published_or_final_versio
