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In vitro remodeling and structural characterization of degradable polymer scaffold-based tissue-engineered vascular grafts using optical coherence tomography

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Abstract

Non-destructive imaging strategies to monitor long-term cultures is essential for vascular engineering. The goal of this study is to investigate whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be a suitable approach to monitor the long-term remodeling process of biodegradable polymeric scaffold-based tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVG) after pulsatile stimulation and to observe polymeric scaffold degradation during bioreactor cultivation. In the present study, a perfusion system driven by a ventricular assist device was provided for a three-dimensional culture system as a pulsatile force. We characterized the structural features of wall thickness and polyglycolic acid degradation based on optical signal attenuation using catheter-based OCT. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed morphological changes. Also, polymer degradation and the detection of different types of collagen was visualized after 4 weeks of culture by means of polarized microscopy. Findings on OCT imaging correlated with those on histological examination and revealed the effects of pulsatile stimulation on the development of engineered vessels. This finding demonstrated that real-time imaging with OCT may be a promising tool for monitoring the growth and remodeling characterization of TEVG and provide a basis to promote the ideal and long-term culture of vascular tissue engineering.

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Abbreviations

bFGF:

Basic fibroblast growth factor

ECM:

Extracellular matrix

ePTFE:

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene

HE:

Hematoxylin and eosin

NLOM:

Nonlinear optical microscopy

OCT:

Optical coherence tomography

PDGF:

Platelet-derived growth factor

PGA:

Polyglycolic acid

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

TEVG:

Tissue-engineered vascular grafts

VSMCs:

Vascular smooth muscle cells

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Science and Technology Planning Project of the Guangdong Province of China (2013B010404034,2016B070701007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China

    Wanwen Chen, Junqing Yang, Jiahui Zhou & Zhanyi Lin

  2. Department of Cardiology, Guangdong NO.2 Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510317, China

    Wenjun Liao

  3. Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong College of Pharmacy, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China

    Jianyi Zheng

  4. Medical Research Center, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China

    Yueheng Wu & Dongfeng Li

  5. Institute of Geriatric medicine, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China

    Zhanyi Lin

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  1. Wanwen Chen
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Correspondence to Zhanyi Lin.

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Chen, W., Yang, J., Liao, W. et al. In vitro remodeling and structural characterization of degradable polymer scaffold-based tissue-engineered vascular grafts using optical coherence tomography. Cell Tissue Res 370, 417–426 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-017-2683-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-017-2683-z

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