In vivo behavior of decellularized vein allograft.

Background: We are investigating decellularized vein allograft as a scaffold to engineer a non-synthetic, small-diameter vascular graft. This study examines the in vivo behavior of this scaffolding after implantation into the arterial circulation.

Materials And Methods: Canine animals underwent bilateral carotid interposition grafting using jugular vein implanted as either: 1) fresh autograft, 2) fresh allograft, or 3) decellularized allograft.

Decellularized vein as a potential scaffold for vascular tissue engineering.

Purpose: Current strategies to create small-diameter vascular grafts involve seeding biocompatible, compliant scaffolds with autologous vascular cells. Our purpose was to study the composition and strength of decellularized vein to determine its potential as a vascular tissue-engineering scaffold.

Methods: Intact human greater saphenous vein specimens were decellularized by using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).