Decellularized fish swim bladder patch loaded with mesenchymal stem cells inhibits neointimal hyperplasia

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Decellularized fish swim bladder serves as a viable scaffold for vascular grafts.
• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) demonstrate potential in mitigating neointimal hyperplasia.
• Neointimal hyperplasia remains a significant challenge in vascular reconstructive surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a bioinspired patch, combining decellularized fish swim bladder with MSCs, in inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia.
• To assess the structural integrity and healing response of the bioinspired patch in a rat aortic patch angioplasty model.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a bioinspired patch by loading MSCs within a sodium alginate/hyaluronic acid hydrogel between two layers of decellularized fish swim bladder.
• Implantation of the bioinspired patch and a control patch (decellularized rat aorta) in a rat aortic patch angioplasty model.
• Histological, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence analyses of explanted patches at 1 and 14 days post-implantation.

Main Results:

• The bioinspired patch exhibited a healing process comparable to native aorta and decellularized rat aortic patches.
• Significant reduction in neointimal thickness (p=0.0053) was observed in the bioinspired patch group.
• Decreased macrophage infiltration (p=0.0090) and proliferation rate (p=0.0291) were noted in the bioinspired patch compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Decellularized fish swim bladder loaded with MSCs effectively inhibits neointimal hyperplasia.
• The bioinspired patch demonstrates favorable structural and biological properties for vascular repair.
• This preliminary study suggests potential clinical applications in larger animals and human research.