Reconstruction of small diameter arteries using decellularized vascular scaffolds

• Published in: Journal of Medical and Dental Sciences Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 33 - 40
• Main Authors: Nagaoka, Yuki, Yamada, Hiroshi, Kimura, Tsuyoshi, Kishida, Akio, Fujisato, Toshia, Takakuda, Kazuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Tokyo Medical and Dental University 2014
• Subjects: Allografts - transplantation; Anastomosis, Surgical - methods; Animals; Aorta, Abdominal - transplantation; Arteries - pathology; Arteries - surgery; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biomechanical Phenomena; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Carotid Arteries - surgery; Dimethylpolysiloxanes - chemistry; Elasticity; Endothelial Cells - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Graft Occlusion, Vascular - etiology; Male; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - pathology; Prosthesis Design; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Stress, Mechanical; Thrombosis - etiology; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Preservation - methods; Tissue Scaffolds; Vascular Patency - physiology
• ISSN: 1342-8810; 2185-9132
• DOI: 10.11480/610105

Although artificial vessels are available for large diameter arteries, there are no artificial vessels for small diameter arteries of < 4 mm. We created a decellularized vascular scaffold (length, 10 mm; outer diameter, 1.5 mm; inner diameter, 1.3 mm) from rat abdominal arteries. We measured the biomechanical characteristics of the scaffolds, implanted them to defects made in rat carotid arteries, and evaluated their patency and the endothelial cell linings. Silastic grafts were implanted as controls. The decellularized scaffolds demonstrated similar mechanical characteristics to normal arteries. All of the control grafts were occluded. Fibroblast-like cells were discovered in the thrombus, and fibrous organization was apparent. In contrast, patency of the grafts in 10 of 12 animals was observed 4 weeks after implantation. The internal cavity of the patent scaffold was completely lined by endothelial-like cells. Thus, the possibility of small artery reconstruction using decellularized scaffolds was demonstrated.