Cardiac Extracellular Matrix Scaffold Generated Using Sarcomeric Disassembly and Antigen Removal

Interindividual heterogeneity affects the outcome of human cardiac tissue decellularization

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of engineered human cardiac tissues corresponds to simplistic biomaterials that allow tissue assembly, or animal derived off-the-shelf non-cardiac specific matrices. Decellularized ECM from human cardiac tissue could provide a means to improve the mimicry of engineered human cardiac tissues. Decellularization of cardiac tissue samples using immersion-based methods can produce acceptable cardiac ECM scaffolds; however, these protocols are mostly described for animal tissue preparations. We have tested four methods to decellularize human cardiac tissue and evaluated their efficiency in terms of cell removal and preservation of key ECM components, such as collagens and sulfated glycosaminoglycans. Extended exposure to decellularization agents, namely sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton-X-100, was needed to significantly remove DNA content by approximately 93% in all human donors. However, the biochemical composition of decellularized tissue is affected, and the preservation of ECM architecture is donor dependent. Our results indicate that standardization of decellularization protocols for human tissue is likely unfeasible, and a compromise between cell removal and ECM preservation must be established in accordance with the scaffold's intended application. Notwithstanding, decellularized human cardiac ECM supported human induced pluripotent-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) attachment and retention for up to 2 weeks of culture, and promoted cell alignment and contraction, providing evidence it could be a valuable tool for cardiac tissue engineering.

Tissue engineered bovine saphenous vein extracellular matrix scaffolds produced via antigen removal achieve high in vivo patency rates

Diseases of small diameter blood vessels encompass the largest portion of cardiovascular diseases, with over 4.2 million people undergoing autologous vascular grafting every year. However, approximately one third of patients are ineligible for autologous vascular grafting due to lack of suitable donor vasculature. Acellular extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds derived from xenogeneic vascular tissue have potential to serve as ideal biomaterials for production of off-the-shelf vascular grafts capable of eliminating the need for autologous vessel harvest. A modified antigen removal (AR) tissue process, employing aminosulfabetaine-16 (ASB-16) was used to create off-the-shelf small diameter (< 3 mm) vascular graft from bovine saphenous vein ECM scaffolds with significantly reduced antigenic content, while retaining native vascular ECM protein structure and function. Elimination of native tissue antigen content conferred graft-specific adaptive immune avoidance, while retention of native ECM protein macromolecular structure resulted in pro-regenerative cellular infiltration, ECM turnover and innate immune self-recognition in a rabbit subpannicular model. Finally, retention of the delicate vascular basement membrane protein integrity conferred endothelial cell repopulation and 100% patency rate in a rabbit jugular interposition model, comparable only to Autograft implants. Alternatively, the lack of these important basement membrane proteins in otherwise identical scaffolds yielded a patency rate of only 20%. We conclude that acellular antigen removed bovine saphenous vein ECM scaffolds have potential to serve as ideal off-the-shelf small diameter vascular scaffolds with high in vivo patency rates due to their low antigen content, retained native tissue basement membrane integrity and preserved native ECM structure, composition and functional properties. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The use of autologous vessels for the treatment of small diameter vascular diseases is common practice. However, the use of autologous tissue poses significant complications due to tissue harvest and limited availability. Developing an alternative vessel for use for the treatment of small diameter vessel diseases can potentially increase the success rate of autologous vascular grafting by eliminating complications related to the use of autologous vessel and increased availability. This manuscript demonstrates the potential of non-antigenic extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds derived from xenogeneic vascular tissue as off-the-shelf vascular grafts for the treatment of small diameter vascular diseases.

Tissue Engineering for Mimics and Modulations of Immune Functions

In the field of regenerative medicine, advances in tissue engineering have surpassed the reconstruction of individual tissues or organs and begun to work towards engineering systemic factors such as immune objects and functions. The immune system plays a crucial role in protecting and regulating systemic functions in the human body. Engineered immune tissues and organs have shown potential in recovering dysfunctions and aplasia of the immune system and the evasion from immune-mediated inflammatory responses and rejection elicited by engineered implants from allogeneic or xenogeneic sources are also being pursued to facilitate clinical transplantation of tissue engineered grafts. Here, current progress in tissue engineering to mimic or modulate immune functions is reviewed and elaborated from two perspectives: 1) engineering of immune tissues and organs per se and 2) immune evasion of host immunoinflammatory rejection by tissue-engineered implants.

Antigen removal process preserves function of small diameter venous valved conduits, whereas SDS-decellularization results in significant valvular insufficiency

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is the most common reported chronic condition in the United States, affecting more than 25 million Americans. Regardless of its high occurrence, current therapeutic options are far from ideal due to their palliative nature. For best treatment outcomes, challenging cases of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) are treated by repair or replacement of venous valves. Regrettably, the success of venous valve transplant is dependent on the availability of autologous venous valves and hindered by the possibility of donor site complications and increased patient morbidity. Therefore, the use of alternative tissue sources to provide off-the-shelf venous valve replacements has potential to be extremely beneficial to the field of CVI. This manuscript demonstrates the capability of producing off-the-shelf fully functional venous valved extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold conduits from bovine saphenous vein (SV), using an antigen removal (AR) method. AR ECM scaffolds maintained native SV structure-function relationships and associated venous valves function. Conversely, SDS decellularization caused significant changes to the collagen and elastin macromolecular structures, resulting in collagen fibril merging, elimination of fibril crimp, amalgaming collagen fibers and fragmentation of the inner elastic lamina. ECM changes induced by SDS decellularization resulted in significant venous valve dysfunction. Venous valved conduits generated using the AR approach have potential to serve as off-the-shelf venous valve replacements for CVI. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Retention of the structure and composition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins within xenogeneic scaffolds for tissue engineering is of crucial importance, due to the undeniable effect ECM proteins can impose on repopulating cells and function of the resultant biomaterial. This manuscript demonstrates that alteration or elimination of ECM proteins via commonly utilized decellularization approach results in complete disruption of venous valve function. Conversely, retention of the delicate ECM structure and composition of native venous tissue, using an antigen removal tissue processing method, results in preservation of native venous valve function.

Small Diameter Xenogeneic Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds for Vascular Applications

Currently, despite the success of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) remains among the most commonly performed cardiac surgical procedures in the United States. Unfortunately, the use of autologous grafts in CABG presents a major clinical challenge as complications due to autologous vessel harvest and limited vessel availability pose a significant setback in the success rate of CABG surgeries. Acellular extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds derived from xenogeneic vascular tissues have the potential to overcome these challenges, as they offer unlimited availability and sufficient length to serve as "off-the-shelf" CABGs. Unfortunately, regardless of numerous efforts to produce a fully functional small diameter xenogeneic ECM scaffold, the combination of factors required to overcome all failure mechanisms in a single graft remains elusive. This article covers the major failure mechanisms of current xenogeneic small diameter vessel ECM scaffolds, and reviews the recent advances in the field to overcome these failure mechanisms and ultimately develop a small diameter ECM xenogeneic scaffold for CABG. Impact Statement Currently, the use of autologous vessel in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is common practice. However, the use of autologous tissue poses significant complications due to tissue harvest and limited availability. Developing an alternative vessel for use in CABG can potentially increase the success rate of CABG surgery by eliminating complications related to the use of autologous vessel. However, this development has been hindered by an array of failure mechanisms that currently have not been overcome. This article describes the currently identified failure mechanisms of small diameter vascular xenogeneic extracellular matrix scaffolds and reviews current research targeted to overcoming these failure mechanisms toward ensuring long-term graft patency.

Heart valve tissue engineering: an overview of heart valve decellularization processes

Despite recent advances in medicine and surgery, many people still suffer from cardiovascular diseases, which affect their life span and morbidity. Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering are novel approaches based on restoring or replacing injured tissues and organs with scaffolds, cells and growth factors. Scaffolds are acquired from two major sources, synthetic materials and naturally derived scaffolds. Biological scaffolds derived from native tissues and cell-derived matrix offer many advantages. They are more biocompatible with a higher affinity to cells, which facilitate tissue reconstruction. Interestingly, xenogeneic recipients generally tolerate their components. Therefore, heart valve tissue engineering is increasingly benefiting from naturally derived scaffolds. In this review, we investigated the different protocols and methods that have been used for heart valve decellularization.

Impact of Detergent-Based Decellularization Methods on Porcine Tissues for Heart Valve Engineering

To date an optimal decellularization protocol of heart valve leaflets (HVL) and pericardia (PER) with an adequate preservation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is still lacking. This study compares a 4 day Triton X-100-based protocol with faster SDC-based protocols for the decellularization of cardiac tissues. Decellularized and non-treated HVL and PER were processed for histological, biochemical and mechanical analysis to determine the effect of these agents on the structure, ECM components, and biomechanical properties. Tissues treated with SDC-based protocols still showed nuclear material, whereas tissues treated with Triton X-100 1% + ENZ ± TRYP were completely cell free. For both decellularized tissues, an almost complete washout of glycosaminoglycans, a reduction of soluble collagen and an alteration of the surface ultrastructure was observed. Interestingly, only the elastic fibers of pericardial tissue were affected and this tissue had a decreased maximum load. This study showed that both detergents had a similar impact on the ECM. However, Triton X-100 1% +DNase/RNase (ENZ) ± Trypsin (TRYP) is the only protocol that generated completely cell free bioscaffolds. Also, our study clearly demonstrated that the decellularization agents have more impact on pericardial tissues than on heart valve leaflets. Thus, for the purpose of tissue engineering of heart valves, it is advisable to use valvular rather than pericardial matrices.