Tissue engineering of heart valves: PEGylation of decellularized porcine aortic valve as a scaffold for in vitro recellularization

Abstract

BackgroundPoly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) has attracted broad interest for tissue engineering applications. The aim of this study was to synthesize 4-arm -PEG-20kDa with the terminal group of diacrylate (4-arm-PEG-DA) and evaluate its dual functionality for decellularized porcine aortic valve (DAV) based on its mechanical and biological properties.Methods4-arm-PEG-DA was synthesized by graft copolymerization of linear PEG 20,000 monomers, and characterized by IR1H NMR and 13C NMR; PEGylation of DAV was achieved by the Michael addition reaction between propylene acyl and thiol, its effect was tested by uniaxial planar tensile testing, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro-Cys (GRGDSPC) peptides and vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (VEGF165) were conjugated onto DAV by branched PEG-DA (GRGDSPC-PEG-DAV-PEG-VEGF165).ResultsMechanical testing confirmed that PEG-cross-linking significantly enhanced the tensile strength of DAV. Immunofluoresce confirmed the GRGDSPC peptides and VEGF165 were conjugated effectively onto DAV; the quantification of conjunction was completed roughly using spectrophotometry and ELISA. The human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) grew and spread well on the GRGDSPC-PEG-DAV-PEG-VEGF165.ConclusionsTherefore, PEGylation of DAV not only can improve the tensile strength of DAV, and can also mediate the conjugation of bioactive molecule (VEGF165 and GRGDSPC peptides) on DAV, which might be suitable for further development of tissue engineered heart valve.

A comparative analysis of antibacterial properties and inflammatory responses for the KR-12 peptide on titanium and PEGylated titanium surfaces

“…17 Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a long chain polymer that is widely used in tissue engineering, medicine, food, owing to its high degree of hydrophilicity, water solubility, good biocompatibility and lack of toxicity. [23][24][25][26][27] The synthetic hydrophilic polymer PEG and its derivatives are the most widely used antifouling and anti-bacterial materials. AMPs can be covalently immobilised using PEG that bears functional groups suitable for covalent peptide immobilisation.…”

Renal Tubular‐ and Vascular Basement Membranes and their Mimicry in Engineering Vascularized Kidney Tubules

“…Therefore, complete repopulation of the scaffold and its functional restoration have as of yet not been successful. There are many more difficulties in the recellularization process, and often incorporation of certain growth factors or bioactive molecules are needed to enhance the function of the created tissue . But also technical challenges are a reason for the unsuccessful recellularization of kidney scaffolds.…”

Development of decellularized scaffolds for stem cell-driven tissue engineering

“…Additionally, the incorporation of certain growth factors or bioactive molecules into the decellularized scaffolds could also result in enhanced functionality of the recellularized tissue/organ constructs. For instance, Zhou et al () reported the potential of decellularized porcine aortic valve functionalized with Gly–Arg–Gly–Asp–Ser–Pro–Cys (GRGDSPC) peptides and vascular endothelial growth factor‐165 (VEGF 165 ) for enhanced cellular immobilization and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Various bioactive molecules that can be incorporated into the decellularized scaffolds to enhance the functionality are shown in Table .…”