An Analysis of Dye-Mediated Photo-Oxidation Fixed Bovine Pericardium for Use in Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Extracellular matrix bioscaffolds have the potential to influence the cardiac microenvironment and to modulate endogenous cellular mechanisms and are therefore a promising forefront for repair and reconstruction in cardiac surgery. In this study, we investigated the biocompatibility and bioinductivity of an acellular bovine pericardium fixed via dye-mediated photo-oxidation on human cardiac fibroblasts. We compared dye-mediated photo- oxidation fixed bioscaffold to glutaraldehyde-fixed and non-fixed bioscaffolds previously characterized in the literature. Human cardiac fibroblasts were seeded on to bioscaffold materials to assess biocompatibility and bioinductivity by specifically characterizing gene expression, secretome, morphology and viability. Dye-mediated photo-oxidation fixed bovine pericardium preserved human cardiac fibroblast phenotype and viability and potentiated a pro-vasculogenic paracrine response. We also compared the tensile properties of each bioscaffold via biomechanical testing. Dye-mediated photo-oxidation fixed bovine pericardium demonstrated increased compliance compared to glutaraldehyde-fixed bioscaffold in response to tensile force. Dye-mediated photo-oxidation fixed bovine pericardium demonstrated enhanced compliance and retained bioinductivity properties which may leverage endogenous reparative pathways. The biocompatibility, bioinductivity, and biomechanical properties of dye-mediated photo-oxidation fixed bovine pericardium demonstrate its feasibility as a bioscaffold for use in cardiac surgery and warrant further investigation for its use as a tool for cardiac repair and regeneration.