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Altered structural and mechanical properties in decellularized rabbit carotid arteries
C Williams1, J Liao, E M Joyce
1Biomimetic Materials Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Acta Biomaterialia
|January 13, 2009
Summary
Decellularization preserves extracellular matrix but alters collagen structure, leading to stiffer, less extensible vascular grafts. These changes compromise structural integrity, impacting performance as potential tissue engineering scaffolds.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Decellularization is a key technique for creating tissue-engineered scaffolds.
- Decellularized tissues are expected to retain native mechanical properties and structure.
- Previous studies indicate decellularization can alter mechanical characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural changes in decellularized rabbit carotid arteries.
- To correlate structural alterations with observed changes in mechanical behavior.
- To evaluate the suitability of decellularized arteries for vascular grafting applications.
Main Methods:
- Histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for extracellular matrix (ECM) and fiber analysis.
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to assess proteoglycan (PG) density and collagen spacing.
- Mechanical testing (stiffness, extensibility, residual stress) and small-angle light scattering (SALS) for structural integrity and fiber mobility.
Main Results:
- ECM components and fibers were largely preserved, but collagen became less crimped and looser.
- Decreased PG density and increased collagen fibril spacing were observed via TEM.
- Decellularized arteries exhibited increased stiffness, reduced extensibility, and decreased residual stress, with compromised structural integrity and increased fiber mobility.
Conclusions:
- Structural alterations, including changes in collagen organization and PG distribution, correlate with altered mechanical properties in decellularized arteries.
- These findings highlight the need for further research into decellularization methods to optimize vascular graft performance.
- Understanding structure-property relationships is crucial for developing effective tissue-engineered vascular grafts.
