Human decellularized and crosslinked pericardium coated with bioactive molecular assemblies

Abstract

Decellularized human pericardium is under study as an allogenic material for cardiovascular applications. The effects of crosslinking on the mechanical properties of decellularized pericardium were determined with a uniaxial tensile test, and the effects of crosslinking on the collagen structure of decellularized pericardium were determined by multiphoton microscopy. The viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells seeded on decellularized human pericardium and on pericardium strongly and weakly crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and with genipin was evaluated by means of an MTS assay. The viability of the cells, measured by their metabolic activity, decreased considerably when the pericardium was crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Conversely, the cell viability increased when the pericardium was crosslinked with genipin. Coating both non-modified pericardium and crosslinked pericardium with a fibrin mesh or with a mesh containing attached heparin and/or fibronectin led to a significant increase in cell viability. The highest degree of viability was attained for samples that were weakly crosslinked with genipin and modified by means of a fibrin and fibronectin coating. The results indicate a method by which in vivo endothelialization of human cardiac allografts or xenografts could potentially be encouraged.

Histological, Biomechanical, and Biological Properties of Genipin-Crosslinked Decellularized Peripheral Nerves

“…and decellularized ECM (pericardial tissue, heart valves, cornea, spinal cord, blood vessels, etc.) [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ] with an evident improvement of the biomechanical properties and better biocompatibility and biological properties than glutaraldehyde [ 28 , 32 , 35 ]. Nevertheless, higher concentrations of GP are not recommended because they may decrease the biological properties and increase the rigidity and fragility of the biomaterials [ 32 ].…”

Coatings in Decellularized Vascular Scaffolds for the Establishment of a Functional Endothelium: A Scoping Review of Vascular Graft Refinement

“…Musilkova et al ( 67 ) used a different approach for their study, where decellularized human pericardium (DP) was strongly or weakly crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and/or genipin prior to coating with a fibrin mesh modified with heparin, fibronectin, heparin and fibronectin, or unmodified. Genipin acts as a natural, low-toxic crosslinking agent with prior experiments demonstrating its ability to stabilize decellularized scaffolds with minimal cytotoxicity and immunogenicity as compared to glutaraldehyde-crosslinked decellularized scaffolds ( 79 – 82 ).…”

“…MTA in samples coated with heparin-modified fibrin mesh and heparin and fibronectin-modified fibrin mesh were lower as compared to other treatments. Despite exhibiting lower MTA values, the anticoagulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of heparin-fibrin may be beneficial in inhibiting thrombosis prior to re-endothelialization ( 67 , 83 ).…”

Cardiac mechanostructure: Using mechanics and anisotropy as inspiration for developing epicardial therapies in treating myocardial infarction

“…In addition to decellularized myocardial ECM, decellularized pericardial tissue has been identified as a potential scaffold for cardiac tissue engineering [ 177 , 178 ]. The pericardium is a membrane which encloses the heart and serves to protect and anchor it.…”