Graphene Oxide Coating Improves the Mechanical and Biological Properties of Decellularized Umbilical Cord Arteries

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c04028
• Publication Date: 2021-07-09T11:12:01Z
• Authors: Andreia T. Pereira; Karl H. Schneider; Patrícia C. Henri...; Christian Grasl; Sofia F. Melo; Inês P. Fernandes; Herbert Kiss; M. Cristina L. Ma...; Helga Bergmeister; Inês C. Gonçalves
• Keywords: Decellularization; Coronary arteries; Umbilical artery

The lack of small-diameter vascular grafts (inner diameter <5 mm) to substitute autologous in arterial bypass surgeries has a massive impact on the prognosis and progression cardiovascular diseases, leading cause death globally. Decellularized arteries from different sources have been proposed as an alternative, but their poor mechanical performance high collagen exposure, which promotes platelet bacteria adhesion, limit successful application. In this study, these limitations were surpassed for decellularized umbilical cord through coating lumen with graphene oxide (GO). Placental perfused suspension GO (C/O ratio 2:1) ∼1.5 μm lateral size. A homogeneous that completely covered fibers was obtained both arteries, improvement properties being achieved arteries. increased maximum force 27%, burst pressure 29%, strain 25%, compliance 10%, compared theoretical (1960 mmHg) (13.9%/100 are similar human saphenous vein mammary artery, respectively, used nowadays gold standard coronary peripheral artery surgeries. Furthermore, very importantly, coatings did not compromise endothelial cell adhesion decreased will prevention thrombosis infection, until full re-endothetialization is achieved. Overall, our results reveal effective role performance, huge step toward application graft.