Comparison of Biomechanical and Microstructural Properties of Aortic Graft Materials in Aortic Repair Surgeries

Mechanical mismatch between native aortas and aortic grafts can induce graft failure. This study aims to compare the mechanical and microstructural properties of different graft materials used in aortic repair surgeries with those of normal and dissected human ascending aortas. Five types of materials including normal aorta (n = 10), dissected aorta (n = 6), human pericardium (n = 8), bovine pericardium (n = 8) and Dacron graft (n = 5) were collected to perform uniaxial tensile testing to determine their material stiffness, and ultimate strength/stretch. The elastin and collagen contents in four tissue groups except for Dacron were quantified by histological examinations, while the material ultrastructure of five material groups was visualized by scanning electron microscope. Statistical results showed that three graft materials including Dacron, human pericardium and bovine pericardium had significantly higher ultimate strength and stiffness than both normal and dissected aortas. Human and bovine pericardia had significantly lower ultimate stretch than native aortas. Histological examinations revealed that normal and diseased aortic tissues had a significantly higher content of elastic fiber than two pericardial tissues, but less collagen fiber content. All four tissue groups exhibited lamellar fiber ultrastructure, with aortic tissues possessing thinner lamella. Dacron was composed of densely coalesced polyethylene terephthalate fibers in thick bundles. Aortic graft materials with denser fiber ultrastructure and/or higher content of collagen fiber than native aortic tissues, exhibited higher ultimate strength and stiffness. This information provides a basis to understand the mechanical failure of aortic grafts, and inspire the design of biomimetic aortic grafts.