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Published on: September 2, 2021
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Histologic Evaluation of Explanted Tissue-Engineered Bovine Pericardium (CardioCel)
Sudesh Prabhu1, Jane E Armes2, Douglas Bell3
1Queensland Paediatric Cardiac Services, Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
|December 3, 2017
Summary
CardioCel, a tissue-engineered bovine pericardium, showed minimal inflammation and calcification in pediatric heart surgery explants. Early signs of graft remodeling and endothelialization suggest potential for cardiovascular reconstruction.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Cardiovascular Surgery
Background:
- CardioCel is a novel anticalcification tissue-engineered bovine pericardium.
- Used in pediatric congenital heart disease operations.
- Histopathologic evaluation of human explants is presented.
Observation:
- Six CardioCel explants from 140 pediatric patients were analyzed.
- Histology included H&E, Masson trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining.
- Evaluated inflammatory response, neointimal/granulation layers, collagen architecture, and calcification.
Findings:
- No significant inflammation or calcification within the CardioCel graft itself.
- Neointimal layer on the visceral surface and granulation tissue on the parietal surface observed.
- Maintained collagen architecture with variable fibroblastic invasion and early signs of remodeling (vascularization, new collagen).
- One explant showed calcification at the graft-host interface.
Implications:
- CardioCel demonstrates promising biocompatibility and remodeling potential in pediatric cardiovascular applications.
- The graft shows resistance to calcification, a common issue with pericardial substitutes.
- Further evaluation is warranted for its use in extracardiac and intracardiac reconstructions.
