ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The degradable poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) has superior mechanical property and biocompatibility.OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the intravascular biocompatibility of PHBHHx in vivo.METHODS: We developed hybrid materials based on decellularized xenogenic vascular scaffolds that were coated with PHBHHx and implanted it into the abdominal aorta of New Zealand rabbits. The decellularized xenogenic pulmonary artery patch without PHBHHx coating served as the control. The implanted patches were determined for the histology, immunofluorescence staining, scanning electron microscopy and calcium contents at 1, 4 and 12 weeks after the surgery.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Hybrid patches exhibited smooth lumen surface without thrombus, the intimal hyperplasia was mild and recellularization was complete; immunofluorescence staining showed that the endothelial cells in the neointima were positive for CD31, with continuous single-layer arrangement, interstitial cells were positive for smooth muscle actin; the calcium content in hybrid patches was obviously lower than that in uncoated patches. PHBHHx shows a remarkable intravascular biocompatibility in vivo and is believed as an ideal candidate for lumen coating of cardiovascular tissue engineering.
ABSTRACT
Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate, PHBHHx) has superior mechanical and biocompatibility that may enable it to meet cardiovascular tissue engineering applications. We developed hybrid materials based on decellularized xenogenic vascular scaffolds that were coated with PHBHHx to investigate the intravascular biocompatibility. The hybrid patches were implanted in the rabbit abdominal aorta (hybrid patch, n = 12). Only decellularized xenogenic vascular scaffolds were implanted without coating as control (uncoated patch, n = 12). The patches were explanted and examined histologically, and biochemically at 1, 4 and 12 weeks after the surgery. The hybrid patches maintained original shapes, covered by confluent layer of cells and had less calcification than uncoated control. The results indicated that PHBHHx coating reduced calcification, promoted the repopulation of hybrid patch with recipients cells. In conclusion, PHBHHx showed remarkable intravascular biocompatibility and would benefit endothelization which would be a useful candidate for lumen of cardiovascular tissue engineering.