title: Decellularized ovine arteries as small-diameter vascular grafts.
abstract: Atherosclerosis and its complications still represent the leading cause of death in the developed countries. While autologous blood vessels may be regarded as the best solution for peripheral and coronary bypass, they are unavailable in most patients. Even though tissue engineering techniques are often applied to the development of small-diameter vascular grafts, limiting factors of this approach are represented by the lack of essential extracellular matrix proteins and/or poor biomechanical properties of the scaffolds used. Along these lines, the aim of this study was to develop a decellularization protocol for ovine carotids to be used as suitable small-diameter vascular grafts. Samples were treated either with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) or with Trypsin and Triton X-100; a final nuclease digestion was performed for both protocols. Morphological analyses demonstrate complete removal of nuclei and cellular components in treated vessels, also confirmed by significant reduction in wall thickness and DNA content. Essential extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen, elastin, and fibronectin are well preserved after decellularization. From a mechanical point of view, Trypsin and Triton X-100 treated arteries show elastic modules and compliance comparable to native carotids, whereas the use of SDS makes samples stiffer, with a significant decrease in the compliance mean value and an increase in longitudinal and circumferential Young's modules. It is demonstrated that the treatment where Trypsin and Triton X-100 are combined guarantees complete decellularization of carotids, with no significant alteration of biomechanical and structural properties, thus preserving a suitable environment for adhesion, proliferation, and migration of cells.
authors: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica Chimica e dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Piazza d'Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy. BT (Biomedical Tissues) Srl, Viale Monastir km 7,300, 09028 Sestu (CA), Italy.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mancuso
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gualerzi
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Boschetti
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Loy
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000737:chemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017830:Octoxynol / Q000737:chemistry; D012756:Sheep; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014357:Trypsin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005353:Fibronectins; D017830:Octoxynol; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA; D014357:Trypsin