Although the science of implantable materials has advanced therapeutic options in vascular surgery, graft failure is still a problem in need of a durable solution. With the development of coating and decellularization techniques, coated prosthetic grafts have become an option; however, whether decellularized human saphenous vein can be conjugated and implanted is not known. Human great saphenous vein (GSV) was harvested and decellularized and hyaluronic acid (HA)–heparin was conjugated to the GSV; water contact angles (WCA), morphology, and sulfur element change were measured before and after heparin bonding. GSV patches were implanted into the rat inferior vena cava and aorta; patches were harvested (Day 14) and analyzed. HA–heparin was successfully conjugated to the decellularized human GSV with altered morphology and reduced WCA. The HA–heparin coated decellularized GSV patch was anti‐thrombotic in vitro, and significantly decreased neointimal thickness both in patch venoplasty and angioplasty in a rat model. Both CD90 and nestin positive cells participated in neointima formation. These data show that HA–heparin coated human GSV patches decrease neointimal thickness when used both in venoplasty and arterioplasty. Tissue engineered decellularized human GSV is a promising vascular prosthesis.
Tissue-engineered
plant scaffolds have shown promising applications
in in vitro studies. To assess the applicability of natural plant
scaffolds as vascular patches, we tested decellularized leaf and onion
cellulose in a rat inferior vena cava patch venoplasty model. The
leaf was decellularized, and the scaffold was loaded with polylactic-
co
-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based rapamycin nanoparticles (nanoparticles).
Nanoparticle-perfused leaves showed decreased neointimal thickness
after implantation on day 14; there were also fewer CD68-positive
cells and PCNA-positive cells in the neointima in the nanoparticle-perfused
patches than in the control patches. Onion cellulose was decellularized,
coated with rapamycin nanoparticles, and implanted in the rat; the
nanoparticle-coated onion cellulose patches also showed decreased
neointimal thickness. These data show that natural plant-based scaffolds
may be used as novel scaffolds for tissue-engineered vascular patches.
However, further modifications are needed to enhance patch strength
for artery implantations.
Small diameter (< 6 mm) prosthetic vascular grafts continue to show very low long-term patency, but bioengineered vascular grafts show promising results in preclinical experiments. To assess a new scaffold source, we tested the use of decellularized fish swim bladder as a vascular patch and tube in rats. Fresh goldfish (Carassius auratus) swim bladder was decellularized, coated with rapamycin and then formed into patches or tubes for implantation in vivo. The rapamycin-coated patches showed decreased neointimal thickness in both the aorta and inferior vena cava patch angioplasty models. Rapamycin-coated decellularized swim bladder tubes implanted into the aorta showed decreased neointimal thickness compared to uncoated tubes, as well as fewer macrophages. These data show that the fish swim bladder can be used as a scaffold source for tissue-engineering vascular patches or vessels.
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