Improved hemocompatibility by modifying acellular blood vessels with bivalirudin and its biocompatibility evaluation
Research article published in J Biomed Mater Res A (2021)
Abstract
The incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases is increasing year by year. The demand for coronary artery bypass grafting has been very large. Acellular blood vessels have potential clinical application because of their natural vascular basis, but their biocompatibility and anticoagulant energy need to be improved. We decellularized the abdominal aorta of SD rats, and then modified with bivalirudin via polydopamine. The mechanical properties, blood compatibility, cytocompatibility, immune response, and anticoagulant properties were evaluated, and then the bivalirudin-modified acellular blood vessels were implanted into rats for remodeling evaluation in vivo. The results we got show that the bivalirudin-modified acellular blood vessels showed good cytocompatibility and blood compatibility, and its anti-inflammatory trend was dominant in the immune response. After 3 months of transplantation, the bivalirudin-modified acellular blood vessels did not easily form thrombus. It was not easy to form calcification and could make the host cells grow better. Through vascular stimulation and immunofluorescence test, we found that vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells proliferated well in the bivalirudin group. Bivalirudin-modified acellular blood vessels provided new idea for small diameter tissue engineering blood vessels, and may become a potential clinical substitute for small-diameter vascular grafts.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Bivalirudin-modified acellular blood vessels show good cytocompatibility, blood compatibility, anti-inflammatory profile, and improved remodeling in rat models.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study decellularized rat (Sprague-Dawley) abdominal aorta, modified it with bivalirudin via polydopamine, and evaluated mechanical properties, blood compatibility, cytocompatibility, immune response, and anticoagulant properties, followed by in vivo implantation in rats. The bivalirudin-modified acellular blood vessels showed good cytocompatibility and blood compatibility, a dominant anti-inflammatory trend, reduced thrombus and calcification at 3 months, and good proliferation of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Bivalirudin is indexed under the MeSH term 'Hirudins,' providing the only abstract-level link to the leech-anticoagulant field. CAVEAT: The abstract does not describe bivalirubin's relationship to leech-derived hirudin, and the study involves no leeches, leech therapy, or leech secretome; it is an animal (rat) tissue-engineering study and findings cannot be applied to hirudotherapy.
Citation
Improved hemocompatibility by modifying acellular blood vessels with bivalirudin and its biocompatibility evaluation.
Du P et al. · J Biomed Mater Res A, 2021
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