Relation between the tissue structure and protein permeability of decellularized porcine aorta

The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of decellularized porcine aorta as a vascular graft material by measuring its permeability to protein. Aorta samples were decellularized by treatment with either high hydrostatic pressurization (HHP) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Histological evaluation showed that the structure of an HHP-treated sample was similar to that of an untreated sample, while the structure of an SDS-treated sample was surfactant-damaged. A two-chamber diffusion system was used to measure permeability to lysozyme and bovine serum albumin. The lysozyme and bovine serum albumin mass transfer coefficients calculated for an SDS-treated sample were significantly larger than those calculated for an untreated sample, while the mass transfer coefficients for an HHP-treated sample were similar to those for an untreated sample. The mass transfer coefficients showed very good agreement with the tissue structure characterization, which means that differences in permeability reflected differences in tissue structure.