Title: Mechanical and in vitro characterisation of decellularised porcine aortic tissue conjugated with gold nanoparticles as a vascular repair material

Authors: Allison M. Ostdiek; Sheila Grant; David Grant

Addresses: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, 1470 Discovery Drive, MO 65211, Columbia ' Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, 250 Agricultural Engineering Building, MO 65211, Columbia ' Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, 250 Agricultural Engineering Building, MO 65211, Columbia

Abstract: There is currently a need for better vascular and cardiac repair materials. These materials must be biocompatible and resist rupture, calcification, and degradation. Materials of biological origin such as decellularised tissue have shown the most promise for achieving these characteristics; however, they still suffer from poor cellular integration and mechanical weakness as compared to the native structures. This study investigated the effects of decellularisation, crosslinking, and conjugation with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) on porcine aortic tissue for use as a vascular repair material. Histology and scanning electron microscopy were performed and confirmed the removal of immunogenic nuclear remnants, confirmed little change in structure after decellularisation, and confirmed the presence of the AuNPs on the material. Mechanical testing was performed which indicated no significant differences in mechanical properties between the native vessel and the modified vessels. Cell culture studies were performed which demonstrated that the modified material was biocompatible. This study confirmed that the decellularised scaffolds maintain the important native tissue characteristics and that crosslinking and the addition of AuNPs achieves biocompatible tissue scaffolds.

Keywords: vascular repair materials; material characterisation; in vitro assays; gold nanoparticles; porcine aortic tissue; decellularised tissue; decellularisation; crosslinking; conjugation; mechanical properties; biocompatibility; nanotechnology; tissue scaffolds.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2015.073145

International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, 2015 Vol.6 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Received: 09 May 2014
Accepted: 28 Nov 2014
Published online: 25 Nov 2015 *

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