"Comparative Evaluation of Novel Detergents for Decellularizing Porcine Coronary Arteries: Toward Non-Toxic, Biocompatible Xenografts for Preclinical Use"

ABSTRACT Background: Cardiovascular diseases have become a very important “killer” in the modern day of medicine/new age of medicine, ranging from ischemic heart diseases to congenital malformations in newborns, as to why it has become a big topic of research worldwide. The potential solution that most of the studies provide are the tissue-engineered vascular grafts, that could bring us to nonimmunogenic grafts and compatible with the patient’s needs, especially the ones who cannot receive a biological, synthetic or autologous graft for various reasons. Aim of study: in current study, we want to evaluate the efficiency of the selected protocols to produce such the least or non-immunogenic vascular grafts from porcine coronary arteries. We achieved the purpose by applying three different detergents and their particular protocols and compared them based on cell removal and scaffold extracellular matrices preservation. Materials and methods: The samples (n=3 for each) were divided in three groups each with different detergents (SDS-Tergitol, SDS-Ecosurf and SDS-Triton X100). A separate native group is maintained as control. The decellularized samples were, then, compared with the native coronary samples and with each other by using DNA quantification, histology (e.g. Hematoxylin-Eosin Staining, Masson’s Trichrome, Weigert Van Gieson), Immunofluorescence (Collagen I, Collagen IV, a-GAL M86, Laminin). Conclusions: The protocols used provided efficient removal of the porcine native cells, leaving the scaffold of the vessels almost intact. This could leave us the possibility to repopulate with stem cells derived endothelial cells to see the regenerative phenomenon for endothelialization. With the least level of immunogenicity, the graft could be used for the preclinical animal models for its biocompatibility. From future prospects, this graft can be proposed to apply in clinical setups without the need of immunosuppressive therapy or the risk of graft rejection.