Morphological Post-implantation Features of Aortic Conduits After Long-term wet Storage

• Published in: Journal of medical and biological engineering 2023-04, Vol.43 (2), p.185-194
• Main Authors: Sergeevichev, David, Vasiliyeva, Maria, Kuznetsova, Elena, Zhulkov, Maksim, Rusakova, Yanina, Chepeleva, Elena, Zhuravleva, Irina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectroscopy; Antibiotics; Aorta; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Biocides; Biological Techniques; Biomaterials; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology; Biomedical materials; Biomedicine; Calcium; Connective tissues; Ethanol; Freezing; Glycerol; Heart surgery; Heart valves; Mixtures; Morphology; Original Article; Physical characteristics; Prostheses; Prosthetics; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Surgical implants
• ISSN: 1609-0985; 2199-4757
• DOI: 10.1007/s40846-023-00784-1

Purpose Improved methods for obtaining connective tissue structures in cardiac surgery are actively developed over the world. An important aspect of this research pertains to long-term wet storage of cardiovascular biomaterial that optimally preserves the initial morphological characteristics. Methods Native and decellularized porcine aortas were stored for 50 days in several biocidal solutions (complex alcohol solution, a mixture of ethanol and glycerol, a mixture of antibiotics), and subsequently implanted in animals and studied histologically. The aortic specimens were implanted subcutaneously into 15 adult WAG rats. The samples were retrieved after 3 months and evaluated for calcium content using a quantitative spectroanalytical procedure. Aortic specimens were also orthotopically implanted into the vascular bed of 3 minipigs, harvested after 6 months, and histologically evaluated. Results Atomic absorption spectroscopy showed that decellularized materials accumulated 4.8–9.2 times less calcium, depending on the storage solution used. Morphological and morphometrical analysis of orthotopically implanted aortic fragments in minipigs showed better preservation of decellularized material that had been stored in a complex alcohol solution and mixture of antibiotics. Conclusion Functional and histological evidence was obtained demonstrating long-term storage without freezing of o aortic specimens without alteration of their biophysical properties and structure. The developed technique will be used in the future for the fabrication of vascular prostheses and heart valves.