Storage Effects on the Mechanical and Cellular Performance of Naturally Derived Extracellular Matrix Materials

Abstract

Effective arterial replacements for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is still an unaddressed worldwide problem. Naturally derived biological scaffolds have huge potential in vascular treatments and have been successfully used in a variety of applications. One of the major problems with using biological scaffolds is storage, which can result in biomechanical changes in the scaffolds. This study evaluated the influence of storage of two scaffolds, small intestinal submucosa (SIS) and urinary bladder matrix (UBM). Mechanical performance was evaluated and cellular viability and proliferation was assessed at the end of the storage period. Uniaxial tensile testing allowed the behavior of the material to be assessed and also generated ultimate tensile strength (UTS) data. Cellular performance was examined by seeding human aortic endothelial cells to the scaffold and then determining cellular proliferation rates. Based on the findings from this study, ECM materials such as SIS and UBM may have potential in cardiovascular applications using off-the-shelf storage methods prior to device delivery and implantation.