Targeting Heparin to Collagen within Extracellular Matrix Significantly Reduces Thrombogenicity and Improves Endothelialization of Decellularized Tissues

Biomacromolecules. 2016 Dec 12;17(12):3940-3948. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b01330. Epub 2016 Nov 29.

Abstract

Thrombosis within small-diameter vascular grafts limits the development of bioartificial, engineered vascular conduits, especially those derived from extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we describe an easy-to-implement strategy to chemically modify vascular ECM by covalently linking a collagen binding peptide (CBP) to heparin to form a heparin derivative (CBP-heparin) that selectively binds a subset of collagens. Modification of ECM with CBP-heparin leads to increased deposition of functional heparin (by ∼7.2-fold measured by glycosaminoglycan composition) and a corresponding reduction in platelet binding (>70%) and whole blood clotting (>80%) onto the ECM. Furthermore, addition of CBP-heparin to the ECM stabilizes long-term endothelial cell attachment to the lumen of ECM-derived vascular conduits, potentially through recruitment of heparin-binding growth factors that ultimately improve the durability of endothelialization in vitro. Overall, our findings provide a simple yet effective method to increase deposition of functional heparin on the surface of ECM-based vascular grafts and thereby minimize thrombogenicity of decellularized tissue, overcoming a significant challenge in tissue engineering of bioartificial vessels and vascularized organs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Collagen / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
  • Heparin / administration & dosage
  • Heparin / chemistry
  • Heparin / metabolism*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Platelet Adhesiveness
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Thrombosis / metabolism
  • Thrombosis / pathology
  • Thrombosis / prevention & control*
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Tissue Scaffolds

Substances

  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Heparin
  • Collagen