OBJECTIVETo investigate the method of constructing small-diameter vascular grafts from xenogenic decellularized arterial matrices and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODSPorcine iliac arteries were decellularized by detergent and trypsin treatment. Histology, mechanical strength and porosity experiments were performed to evaluate the properties of decellularized matrices. MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of dogs and expanded ex vivo. Decellularized matrices were seeded with MSCs and further cultured in a pulsatile bioreactor. Morphological features of the tissue engineered grafts were assayed by HE staining and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSAfter cell extraction, absence of cellular components and preservation of extracellular matrix were verified. Mechanical strength of decellularized matrices was slightly reduced compared with native arteries. Porosity of decellularized matrices was 94.9%. Decellularized matrices were successfully seeded with MSCs, which grew to a near-confluent monolayer under flow conditions and MSCs were highly elongated and oriented to the flow direction.

CONCLUSIONSmall-diameter vascular grafts can be constructed by seeding MSCs onto xenogenic decellularized arterial matrices and culturing in a pulsatile bioreactor.