title: Decellularized human placenta chorion matrix as a favorable source of small-diameter vascular grafts.
abstract: Biomaterials based on decellularized tissues are increasingly attracting attention as functional alternatives to other natural or synthetic materials. However, a source of non-cadaver human allograft material would be favorable. Here we establish a decellularization method of vascular tissue from cryopreserved human placenta chorionic plate starting with an initial freeze-thaw step followed by a series of chemical treatments applied with a custom-made perfusion system. This novel pulsatile perfusion set-up enabled us to successfully decellularize the vascular tissue with lower concentrations of chemicals and shorter exposure times compared to a non-perfusion process. The decellularization procedure described here lead to the preservation of the native extracellular matrix architecture and the removal of cells. Quantitative analysis revealed no significant changes in collagen content and a retained glycosaminoglycan content of approximately 29%. In strain-to-failure tests, the decellularized grafts showed similar mechanical behavior compared to native controls. In addition, the mechanical values for ultimate tensile strength and stiffness were in an acceptable range for in vivo applications. Furthermore, biocompatibility of the decellularized tissue and its recellularizationability to serve as an adequate substratum for upcoming recellularization strategies using primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was demonstrated. HUVECs cultured on the decellularized placenta vessel matrix performed endothelialization and maintained phenotypical characteristics and cell specific expression patterns. Overall, the decellularized human placenta vessels can be a versatile tool for experimental studies on vascularization and as potent graft material for future in vivo applications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the US alone more than 1million vascular grafts are needed in clinical practice every year. Despite severe disadvantages, such as donor site morbidity, autologous grafting from the patient's own arteries or veins is regarded as the gold standard for vascular tissue repair. Besides, strategies based on synthetic or natural materials have shown limited success. Tissue engineering approaches based on decellularized tissues are regarded as a promising alternative to clinically used treatments to overcome the observed limitations. However, a source for supply of non-cadaver human allograft material would be favorable. Here, we established a decellularization method of vascular tissue from the human placenta chorionic plate, a suitable human tissue source of consistent quality. The decellularized human placenta vessels can be a potent graft material for future in vivo applications and furthermore might be a versatile tool for experimental studies on vascularization.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology/AUVA Research Center, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: karl.schneider@trauma.lbg.ac.at.
authors.forename: Karl Heinrich
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology/AUVA Research Center, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria; Department of Biochemical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology/AUVA Research Center, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Holnthoner
authors.affiliation: Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria; Department of Biochemical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Monforte
authors.affiliation: Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria; Bernhard Gottlieb University Clinic of Dentistry, Universitätsklinik für Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde Ges.m.b.H, Vienna, Austria; Medical University of Vienna, Department of Trauma Surgery, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nürnberger
authors.affiliation: Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria; Department of Biochemical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rünzler
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology/AUVA Research Center, Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Redl
authors.affiliation: Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria; Department of Biochemical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas Herbert
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Teuschl
mesh_terms: D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002823:Chorion / Q000737:chemistry*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
keywords: Decellularized matrix; Human placenta; Recellularization; Vascular grafts