Swim Bladder as a Novel Biomaterial for Cardiovascular Materials with Anti-Calcification Properties

Abstract

Calcification is a major cause of cardiovascular materials failure and deterioration, which leads to the restriction of their wide application. To develop new materials with anti-calcification capability is an urgent clinical requirement. Herein, a natural material derived from swim bladders as one promising candidate is introduced, which is prepared by decellularization and glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinking. Data show that the swim bladder is mainly composed of collagen I, glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and elastin, especially rich in elastin, in accordance with higher elastic modulus in comparison to bovine pericardium. Moreover, the calcification of this material is proved dramatically lower than that of bovine pericardium by in vitro calcification assessments and in vivo assay using a rat subcutaneous implantation model. Meanwhile, good cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and enzymatic stability are demonstrated by in vitro assays. Further, a small diameter vascular graft using this material is successfully developed by rolling method and in situ implantation assay using a rat abdominal artery replacement model shows great performances in the aspect of higher patency and lower calcification. Taken together, these superior properties of swim bladder-derived material in anti-calcification, proper mechanical strength and stability, and excellent hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility endow it a great candidate as cardiovascular biomaterials.

Keywords: anti-calcification; bioprosthetic heart valves; small-diameter vascular grafts; swim bladders.