Chemical cross‐linking of xenopericardial biomeshes: A bottom‐up study of structural and functional correlations

Abstract

Decellularized bovine pericardium (DBP)-based biomeshes are the gold standard in reconstructive surgery. In order to prolong their stability after the transplantation, various chemical cross-linking strategies are employed. However, structural and functional properties of the biomeshes differ in dependence on the cross-linker used. Here, we performed a bottom-up study of structural and functional alterations of DBP-based biomeshes following cross-linking with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDC), ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and genipin. The in vitro cytotoxicity tests supported their clinical applicability. Their structural differences (eg roughness, fibre thickness, pore morphology) were evaluated using the two-photon confocal laser scanning, atomic force, scanning electron and polarized light microscopies. HMDC and EDC samples appeared to be the roughest. Complex mechanical trials indicated the tendency to reduced Young's Modulus and mechanical anisotropy values of DBP upon cross-linking. The lowest mechanical anisotropy was found in EDC and genipin sample groups.In vitro collagenase susceptibility was the highest for EDC samples and the lowest for EGDE samples. The comparative analysis of the results allowed us to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each cross-linker in relation to a particular clinical application. K E Y W O R D Sbiomechanics, bovine pericardium, cross-linking, decellularization, reconstructive surgery

Xenotransplantation literature update, May/June 2019

“…In reconstructive surgery, decellularized bovine pericardium (DBP) are important in guiding functional and structural reconstitution of injured tissues and tare personalized to the surrounding target tissue to minimize adverse side effects . Ekaterina et al investigated the effect of crosslinking through different strategies including hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDC), ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), or 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and genipin on DBP properties in hopes of personalizing biomesh properties . The goal of crosslinking is to enhance the proteolytic stability of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) structures, but the properties of the biomesh change with each type of chemical crosslinking .…”

“…Ekaterina et al investigated the effect of crosslinking through different strategies including hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDC), ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), or 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and genipin on DBP properties in hopes of personalizing biomesh properties . The goal of crosslinking is to enhance the proteolytic stability of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) structures, but the properties of the biomesh change with each type of chemical crosslinking . Ekaterina et al performed a bottom‐up study design to fully evaluate both strengths and weakness crosslinking techniques .…”

“…The goal of crosslinking is to enhance the proteolytic stability of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) structures, but the properties of the biomesh change with each type of chemical crosslinking . Ekaterina et al performed a bottom‐up study design to fully evaluate both strengths and weakness crosslinking techniques . They adequately controlled sample acquisition, preparation and analysis to gain specific insight into the effect of biomesh crosslinking …”

“…Ekaterina et al performed a bottom‐up study design to fully evaluate both strengths and weakness crosslinking techniques . They adequately controlled sample acquisition, preparation and analysis to gain specific insight into the effect of biomesh crosslinking …”

“…In the previous issue of Xenotransplantation, Zhang et al made a comprehensive review of porcine hepatic xenotransplantation, Li et al asses the use of New World capuchin monkey as NHP models, Zhao et al evaluate xenoimplications of IL‐6, TNF‐alpha, and IL‐17 signaling, Wang et al explored porcine renal development through SIX1 and SIX4 gene knockout studies, and Masuhiro et al studied clinical grade neonatal porcine bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (npBM‐MSCs). Additionally, Terlecki et al researched bovine pericardial xenografts, Roderjan et al studied porcine semilunar heart valves, and Grebenik et al looked deeper into xenopericardial biomeshes. MartínezAlarcón et al performed a social study, focusing on the clinical perspective of xenotransplantation.…”