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Development and characterisation of a large diameter decellularised vascular allograft
A Aldridge1, A Desai2, H Owston3
1Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. a.aldridge@leeds.ac.uk.
Cell and Tissue Banking
|December 1, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed a biological vascular graft from human aorta. This decellularized aorta retains key properties, offering a promising alternative for patients needing large diameter grafts.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Synthetic vascular grafts can lead to infections.
- Native human aorta possesses ideal structural and mechanical properties for grafts.
- Decellularization aims to remove immunogenic cells while preserving extracellular matrix.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a decellularized human aorta as a biological large diameter vascular graft.
- To assess the biomechanical and biochemical integrity of the decellularized aorta.
- To evaluate the biocompatibility of the acellular aortic tissue.
Main Methods:
- Human aortas underwent a proprietary decellularization process.
- Acellularity was confirmed via histology and DNA quantification.
- Biocompatibility was tested using cytotoxicity assays.
- Mechanical properties were assessed through tensile and suture retention testing.
Main Results:
- Decellularization successfully removed cells, evidenced by histology and a 94% DNA reduction.
- The decellularized aorta maintained native histoarchitecture, including collagen and elastin.
- In vitro cytotoxicity tests confirmed good biocompatibility.
- Mechanical testing showed no significant difference in tensile strength or suture retention compared to native aorta.
- Reduced calcium deposits were observed in decellularized tissue.
Conclusions:
- The decellularization process effectively removes immunogenic cells from human aorta.
- The procedure preserves essential biomechanical and biochemical properties.
- Acellular human aorta demonstrates significant potential as a safe and effective large diameter vascular graft.
