[Characteristics of porcine thoracic arteries fixed with polyepoxy compound].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics of porcine thoracic arteries fixed with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EX-810) and to provide the proper scaffold materials for tissue-engineered blood vessel.


METHODS
The porcine thoracic arteries were respectively treated with 40 ml/L EX-810 and 6.25 g/L glutaraldehyde, and then they were examined with naked-eye, light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The fixation index determination, the amino acid analysis and the biomechanics test were also performed.


RESULTS
The antigenicity of vascular tissues can be diminished by EX-810 through getting rid of cell in the vascular tissues or reducing the level of free amino groups in the vascular tissues. The structural integrity of vascular tissues can be preserved after treatment with EX-810. It was also found that the EX-810-fixed porcine vascular tissues appeared more similar to the natural vascular tissues in color and mechanical properties, and were more pliable than the glutaraldehyde-fixed tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
The EX-810-fixed porcine thoracic arteries with low cytotoxicity and low antigenicity showed favorable characteristic similar to those of natural vessel, and it should be a promising material for fabricating scaffold of tissue-engineered blood vessel.
Yu
Xi-Xun
XX
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Chen
Huai-Qing
HQ
D000818:Animals; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D016707:Tissue Fixation
D004853:Epoxy Resins; C035364:Quetol 651