Feasibility of a nanomaterial-tissue patch for vascular and cardiac reconstruction

Vascular and cardiac reconstruction involves the use of biological patches to treat trauma and defects. An in vivo study was performed to determine the remodeling and biologic effects of novel nanostructured vascular patches with and without gold nanoparticles. Porcine vascular tissue was decellularized and conjugated with gold nanoparticles to evaluate if integration would occur while avoiding rupture and stenosis. Swine underwent a bilateral patch angioplasty of the carotid arteries with experimental patches on the right and control patches of bovine pericardium on the left. Animals were sacrificed after surgery and at 3 and 9 weeks. Ultrasound was performed during surgery, every 3 weeks, and before euthanasia. Endothelial regeneration was examined using Evans Blue dye and histology using Trichrome and H&E. There was a 100% success rate of implantation with 0% mortality. All patches were patent on ultrasound. At 3 weeks, experimental patches had regenerating endothelial cell growth and normal healing responses. At 9 weeks, the experimental patches demonstrated excellent integration. Histology demonstrated cellular in-growth into the experimental patches and no major immune reactions. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate the feasibility of nanomaterial-tissue patches for vascular and cardiac reconstruction.