Comparative study of the Triton X-100-sodium deoxycholate method and detergent-enzymatic digestion method for decellularization of porcine aortic valves

B.-T. Yu, W.-T. Li, B.-Q. Song, Y.-L. Wu

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China. yubentong@126.com

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• Cardiology

BACKGROUND: Valve replacement is the primary surgical treatment for heart valve disease. However, the clinical benefit of biological valve substitutes is limited by their potential immunogenicity.

AIM: To seek a better method of preparing biological scaffolds for tissue engineering heart valves, we compared the ability of different decellularization procedures to remove cells and maintain the scaffold structure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specimens of fresh porcine aortic valve leaflets were randomly divided into group I (n = 16), group II (n = 16) and group III (n = 16). The valve leaflets in group I were not decellularized; group II were treated with Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate; and group III were treated by a detergent-enzymatic digestion method. The valve leaflets were investigated by gross examination, hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson’s trichrome staining, and scanning electron microscopy to observe the valve structure and the integrity of collagen and elastin. The DNA content was measured to confirm the removal of cells.

RESULTS: The detergent-enzymatic digestion method completely removed cells and led to valve fiber structural alterations in group III. The Triton X-100-sodium deoxycholate method achieved both complete decellularization and preservation of the valve fiber structure in group II.

CONCLUSIONS: The detergent-enzymatic digestion method is a better technique for decellularization than the Triton X-100-sodium deoxycholate method, as it enables both complete decellularization and preservation of the valve scaffold structure

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