Hyaluronic acid–heparin conjugated decellularized human great saphenous vein patches decrease neointimal thickness

Although the science of implantable materials has advanced therapeutic options in vascular surgery, graft failure is still a problem in need of a durable solution. With the development of coating and decellularization techniques, coated prosthetic grafts have become an option; however, whether decellularized human saphenous vein can be conjugated and implanted is not known. Human great saphenous vein (GSV) was harvested and decellularized and hyaluronic acid (HA)–heparin was conjugated to the GSV; water contact angles (WCA), morphology, and sulfur element change were measured before and after heparin bonding. GSV patches were implanted into the rat inferior vena cava and aorta; patches were harvested (Day 14) and analyzed. HA–heparin was successfully conjugated to the decellularized human GSV with altered morphology and reduced WCA. The HA–heparin coated decellularized GSV patch was anti‐thrombotic in vitro, and significantly decreased neointimal thickness both in patch venoplasty and angioplasty in a rat model. Both CD90 and nestin positive cells participated in neointima formation. These data show that HA–heparin coated human GSV patches decrease neointimal thickness when used both in venoplasty and arterioplasty. Tissue engineered decellularized human GSV is a promising vascular prosthesis.