title: Decellularized aorta of fetal pigs as a potential scaffold for small diameter tissue engineered vascular graft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For cardiovascular tissue engineering, acellularized biomaterials from pig have been widely investigated. Our purpose was to study mechanical properties and biocompatibility of decellularized aorta of fetal pigs (DAFP) to determine its potential as scaffold for small diameter tissue engineered vascular graft.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descending aorta of fetal pigs was removed cells using trypsin, ribonuclease and desoxyribonuclease. Mechanical properties of DAFP were evaluated by tensile stress-strain and burst pressure analysis. Assessment of cell adhesion and compatibility was conducted by seeding porcine aortic endothelial cells. To evaluate biocompatibility in vivo, DAFP was implanted subcutaneously into adult male Sprague Dawley rats for 2, 4 and 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy examination of DAFP revealed well-preserved extracellular matrix proteins and porous three-dimensional structures. Compared with fresh aorta, DAFP had similar ultimate tensile strength, axial compliance and burst pressure. Cell culture studies in vitro showed that porcine aortic endothelial cells adhered and proliferated on the surfaces of DAFP with excellent cell viability. Subdermal implantation demonstrated that the DAFP did not show almost any immunological reaction and exhibited minimal calcification during the whole follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DAFP has the potential to serve as scaffolds for small diameter tissue engineered vascular graft.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Feng
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-Juan
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Da-Ping
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xue-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Tie-Fang
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chen-Guang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chun-Lei
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D008422:Materials Testing; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D002118:Calcium