Biomaterial characterization of off-the-shelf decellularized porcine pericardial tissue for use in prosthetic valvular applications
Open Access
- 30 May 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Vol. 12 (7), 1608-1620
- https://doi.org/10.1002/term.2686
Abstract
Fixed pericardial tissue is commonly used for commercially available xenograft valve implants, and has proven durability, but lacks the capability to remodel and grow. Decellularized porcine pericardial tissue has the promise to outperform fixed tissue and remodel, but the decellularization process has been shown to damage the collagen structure and reduce mechanical integrity of the tissue. Therefore, a comparison of uniaxial tensile properties was performed on decellularized, decellularized‐sterilized, fixed, and native porcine pericardial tissue, versus native valve leaflet cusps. The results of non‐parametric analysis showed statistically significant differences (p0.05). SEM confirmed that valvular endothelial and interstitial cells colonized the decellularized pericardial surface when seeded and grown for 30 days in static culture. Collagen assays and TEM analysis showed limited reductions in collagen with processing; yet, GAG assays showed great reductions in the processed pericardium relative to native cusps. Decellularized pericardium had comparatively lower mechanical properties amongst the groups studied; yet, the stiffness was comparatively similar to the native cusps and demonstrated a lack of cytotoxicity. Suture retention, accelerated wear, and hydrodynamic testing of prototype decellularized and decell‐sterilized valves showed positive functionality. Sterilized tissue could mimic valvular mechanical environment in vitro, therefore making it a viable potential candidate for off‐the‐shelf tissue engineered valvular applications. KEYTERMS Decellularization, Sterilization, Pericardial Tissue, Heart Valves, Tissue Engineering, BiomechanicsKeywords
Funding Information
- National Institute of Health T32 (HL007111)
- HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Program in Biological Valve Engineering
This publication has 46 references indexed in Scilit:
- Tissue decellularization by activation of programmed cell deathBiomaterials, 2013
- Changes of the Structural and Biomechanical Properties of the Bovine Pericardium after the Removal of α-Gal Epitopes by Decellularization and α-Galactosidase TreatmentThe Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2012
- Biomechanical characterization of aortic valve tissue in humans and common animal modelsJournal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2012
- A Comparative Study on Mechanical and Biochemical Properties of Bovine Pericardium After Single or Double Crosslinking TreatmentKorean Circulation Journal, 2012
- An overview of tissue and whole organ decellularization processesBiomaterials, 2011
- Valvular heart disease: the next cardiac epidemicHeart, 2010
- Effect of the αGal Epitope on the Response to Small Intestinal Submucosa Extracellular Matrix in a Nonhuman Primate ModelTissue Engineering, Part A, 2009
- Effects of decellularization on the mechanical and structural properties of the porcine aortic valve leafletBiomaterials, 2008
- In vivo autologous recellularization of a tissue-engineered heart valve: Are bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells the best candidates?The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2007
- Acellular matrix: A biomaterials approach for coronary artery bypass and heart valve replacementThe Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 1995