Abstract
Decellularized human pericardium is under study as an allogenic material for cardiovascular application purposes. The effects of crosslinking on the mechanical properties of decellularized pericardium were determined via a uniaxial tensile test, and the effects of crosslinking on the collagen structure of decellularized pericardium were determined via multiphoton microscopy.
The viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells seeded on decellularized human pericardium and on pericardium strongly and weakly crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and with genipin were evaluated by means of an MTS assay. The viability of the cells measured via their metabolic activity decreased considerably when the pericardium was crosslinked with glutaraldehyde.
Conversely, the cell viability increased when the pericardium was crosslinked with genipin. Coating both non-modified pericardium and crosslinked pericardium with a fibrin mesh or with a mesh containing attached heparin and/or fibronectin led to a significant increase in cell viability.
The highest degree of viability was attained for samples that were weakly crosslinked with genipin and modified by means of a fibrin and fibronectin coating. The results indicate a way by which in vivo endothelialization of human cardiac allografts or xenografts could potentially be encouraged.