title: Decellularized Amniotic Membrane Scaffold as a Pericardial Substitute: An In Vivo Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the development of new biomaterials for pericardium substitute, acellular amniotic membrane (AAM) presents potential for new applications in regenerative medicine. We studied an AAM as a pericardial substitute to achieve a suitable, cost effective, abundant matrix for the purpose of using it as graft for tissue repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 10/group) and had their pericardiums excised. In the experimental group, the excised pericardium segment was substituted by a 7-mm-diameter patch of decellularized AAM sutured to the lesion area. After 4 weeks, the heart's outer layer of both groups was evaluated. The structure and component characteristics of the scaffold were determined with the use of hematoxylin and eosi, Alizarin Red S, and immumohistochemical staining and scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathologic examination of the AAM patches revealed that the integrity of the AAM was preserved, and no calcification was observed on the surface of the myocardium. We also observed thicker pericardium repair tissue in the AAM group compared with the control group. AAM patches, by virtue of their low immunogenicity, evoked minimal host-versus-graft reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that AAM appears to be an ideal substitute for pericardium lesions, because it is integrated into the biologic tissue owing to its low immunogenicity and its ability to diminish the occurrence of adhesions and scarring, increasing the pericardium thickness.
authors: Cell Therapy and Biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Institute, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: julio.apfr@gmail.com.
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Francisco
authors: Cell Therapy and Biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Institute, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Correa Cunha
authors: Cell Therapy and Biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Institute, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Cardoso
authors: Experimental Laboratory, Institute of Biological and Health Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Baggio Simeoni
authors: Cell Therapy and Biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Institute, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: B F
authors: BF
authors: Mogharbel
authors: Cell Therapy and Biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Institute, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: G L
authors: GL
authors: Picharski
authors: Cell Therapy and Biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Institute, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Silva Moreira Dziedzic
authors: Experimental Laboratory, Institute of Biological and Health Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Guarita-Souza
authors: Cell Therapy and Biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Institute, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: K A T
authors: KA
authors: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials