Month: March 2025

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025 Feb 28. doi: 10.1007/s00266-025-04770-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this in vivo study is to compare cartilage viability within diced cartilage grafts from the perspective of three wrapping biomaterials Group A acellular dermal matrix (FlexHD®), Group T bovine pericardium (Tutopatch®), and Group F allogeneic human fascia for a possible implementation in the clinical use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This in vivo study was conducted on 5 SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency)/Gamma Mice with a duration of eight weeks. The cartilage within composite grafts were obtained from the remaining cartilage following secondary rhinoplasty performed on a single donor. Diced cartilage grafts were wrapped separately with acellular dermal matrix (ADM), bovine pericardium, and fascia to form three groups. A total of five mice were utilized in all three experimental groups, with a total of 15 experimental materials being examined. One composite graft from each group was implanted into the backs of the mice. The effects of the biomaterials on the viability and stability of the composite grafts were evaluated. Viability was evaluated through LIVE/DEAD cell analysis and histopathological examinations. Stability was assessed by comparing weight and volume changes of the grafts, measured using a precision balance and computed tomography, respectively.

RESULTS: A significant increase in weight was found in the fascia group after implantation (p < 0.05). In the ADM (Group A) and bovine pericardium (Group T), no statistically significant weight change was observed (p > 0.05). A significant increase in volume was found in the ADM (Group A) group after implantation (p < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed the highest cartilage viability percentage in the fascia (Group F) and the lowest in the ADM (Group A). No significant difference was found in viability percentages between the groups. Histopathological examinations supported the flow cytometry findings.

CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that cartilage grafts wrapped in allogenic fascia (Group F) showed better viability and stability compared with ADM (Group A) and bovine pericardium (Group T). This suggests that while fascia may remain the gold standard, alternative biomaterials also hold potential. Further experimental and clinical studies with larger sample sizes are needed to support these findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

PMID:40021504 | DOI:10.1007/s00266-025-04770-7

ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2025 Jan 13;11(1):634-648. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c01724. Epub 2025 Jan 3.

ABSTRACT

Valvular heart disease (VHD) poses a significant threat to human health, and the transcatheter heart valve replacement (THVR) is the best treatment for severe VHD. Currently, the glutaraldehyde cross-linked commercial bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) remain the first choice for THVR. However, the cross-linking by glutaraldehyde exhibits several drawbacks, including calcification, inflammatory reactions, and difficult endothelialization, which limits the longevity and applicability of BHVs. In this study, λ-carrageenan with anticoagulant function was modified by carboxymethylation into carboxymethyl λ-carrageenan (CM-λC); subsequently, CM-λC was used as a cross-linking agent to stabilize decellularized bovine pericardial tissue through amide bonds formed by a 1-(3-(Dimethylamino)propyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide/N-Hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS)-catalyzed reaction between the amino functional groups within pericardium and the carboxyl group located on CM-λC. Lastly, the inclusion complex (CD/Rutin) (formed by encapsulating the rutin molecule through the hydrophobic cavity of the mono-(6-ethylenediamine-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin) was immobilized onto above BHVs materials (λCar-BP) through the amidation reaction. The treated sample exhibited mechanical properties and collagen stability similar to those of GA-BP, except for improved flexibility. Because of the presence of sulfonic acid groups and absence of aldehyde group as well as the Rutin release from CD/Rutin immobilized onto BHVs, the hemocompatibility, anti-inflammatory, HUVEC-cytocompatibility, and anticalcification properties, of the CM-λC-fixed BP modified with CD/Rutin was significantly better than that of GA-BP. In summary, this nonaldehyde-based natural polysaccharide cross-linking strategy utilizing the combination of CM-λC and CD/Rutin provides a novel solution to obtain BHVs with durable and stable anticoagulant, anticalcification, and anti-inflammatory properties, and has a wide range of potential applications in improving the various properties of BHVs.

PMID:39748762 | DOI:10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c01724