An innovative method to obtain porous porcine aorta scaffolds for tissue engineering

Abstract

Decellularized porcine aorta (PA) is a promising biomaterial for vascular substitutes. However, decellularized PAs suffer from mechanical weakness and have less pores, which limit cellular ingrowth into the grafts and hinder the remodeling. In this study, PAs were decellularized by vacuum‐freeze‐thawing cycles and 0.3% of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) buffer (VLS). Results showed that the application of vacuum‐freeze‐thawing significantly improved the decellularization efficiency of SDS while effectively preserved the mechanical function of PA tissues, decreased residual SDS, and minimized cytotoxicity. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination demonstrated that VLS generated interconnected pores with uniform distribution. In vivo subcutaneous implantation assay further demonstrated that VLS implants had less calcification and adverse inflammatory response. Moreover, VLS treatment markedly enhanced ingrowth of myofibroblasts and endothelial cells, and thereby promoted synthesis of extracellular matrix and vascularization. These results suggest that the application of vacuum‐freeze‐thawing into the decellularization process may produce a promising vascular graft candidate for tissue engineering application.

Decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds: Recent trends and emerging strategies in tissue engineering

“…Freeze-thaw procedures are operated to disintegrate cell membranes, promote cell lysis and detach cells from the ECM network by forming intracellular ice crystals. Freeze-thaw cycles have been used for both O/T-derived ECM and cell-derived ECM due to its improved decellularization efficiency, reduced residual chemicals and cytotoxicity, and well-preserved biochemical composition, biomechanical performance and tissue structures [ 41 , 42 ]. The decellularization efficiency is mainly determined by its cooling/thawing rate, the setpoint temperature, processing time, and repetitive cycles [ 43 ].…”

“…However, due to interrupting protein-protein interactions, ionic detergents have a harmful impact on ECM structures and bioactive components [ 48 , 51 , 61 , 103 , 104 ]. Besides, remaining SDS is difficult to remove due to its strong interactions with ECM proteins, which may subsequently induce cytotoxicity to recellularized cells [ 41 , [104] , [105] , [106] ]. Compared to ionic detergents, non-ionic detergents provide a gentler treatment to solubilize cell membranes and dissociate DNA from proteins by breaking up interactions of lipid-lipid, lipid-protein, DNA-protein, but leaving protein-protein interactions conserved.…”

Artificial Organs 2019: A year in review

“…Xiaohong Liu et al of the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China investigated the use of decellularized porcine aorta (PA) as a vascular support. PAs were decellularized by vacuum‐freeze‐thawing cycles and 0.3% of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) buffer (VLS).…”

Scaffold‐free tissue‐engineered arterial grafts derived from human skeletal myoblasts

“…To date, several TEVG fabrication methods have been developed, including biodegradable conduits, cell sheets, decellularized materials, and 3D bioprinting 4‐7 . These methods have shown promising results in vivo and in vitro, but there remain major limitations, including the lack of clinically applicable cell sources.…”