Impact of Three Different Processing Techniques on the Strength and Structure of Juvenile Ovine Pulmonary Homografts
Johannes J van den Heever,
Christiaan J Jordaan,
Angélique Lewies,
Jacqueline Goedhals,
Dreyer Bester,
Lezelle Botes,
Pascal M Dohmen,
Francis E Smit
Affiliations
Johannes J van den Heever
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339 (Internal Box G32), Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Christiaan J Jordaan
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339 (Internal Box G32), Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Angélique Lewies
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339 (Internal Box G32), Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Jacqueline Goedhals
Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339 (Internal Box G32), Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Dreyer Bester
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339 (Internal Box G32), Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Lezelle Botes
Department of Health Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), Private Bag X20539, P.O. Box 339 (Internal Box G32), Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Pascal M Dohmen
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339 (Internal Box G32), Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Francis E Smit
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339 (Internal Box G32), Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Homografts are routinely stored by cryopreservation; however, donor cells and remnants contribute to immunogenicity. Although decellularization strategies can address immunogenicity, additional fixation might be required to maintain strength. This study investigated the effect of cryopreservation, decellularization, and decellularization with additional glutaraldhyde fixation on the strength and structure of ovine pulmonary homografts harvested 48 h post-mortem. Cells and cellular remnants were present for the cryopreserved group, while the decellularized groups were acellular. The decellularized group had large interfibrillar spaces in the extracellular matrix with uniform collagen distribution, while the additional fixation led to the collagen network becoming dense and compacted. The collagen of the cryopreserved group was collapsed and appeared disrupted and fractured. There were no significant differences in strength and elasticity between the groups. Compared to cryopreservation, decellularization without fixation can be considered an alternative processing technique to maintain a well-organized collagen matrix and tissue strength of homografts.
