2020 journal article

Bioactive‐Tissue‐Derived Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Permanent Arterial Embolization and Enhanced Vascular Healing

Advanced Materials.

By: J. Hu*, I. Altun*, Z. Zhang*, H. Albadawi*, M. Salomao*, J. Mayer*, L. Hemachandra*, S. Rehman*, R. Oklu*

co-author countries: United States of America 🇺🇸
author keywords: decellularized extracellular matrix; embolization; hybrid nanocomposite hydrogels; transcatheter delivery; vascular remodeling
MeSH headings : Animals; Arteries / drug effects; Arteries / pathology; Arteries / physiopathology; Biocompatible Materials / chemistry; Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology; Embolization, Therapeutic / methods; Extracellular Matrix / chemistry; Hydrogels / chemistry; Nanocomposites / chemistry; Shear Strength; Swine; Vascular Remodeling / drug effects
Source: ORCID
Added: August 10, 2022

Transcatheter embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that uses embolic agents to intentionally block diseased or injured blood vessels for therapeutic purposes. Embolic agents in clinical practice are limited by recanalization, risk of non-target embolization, failure in coagulopathic patients, high cost, and toxicity. Here, a decellularized cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM)-based nanocomposite hydrogel is developed to provide superior mechanical stability, catheter injectability, retrievability, antibacterial properties, and biological activity to prevent recanalization. The embolic efficacy of the shear-thinning ECM-based hydrogel is shown in a porcine survival model of embolization in the iliac artery and the renal artery. The ECM-based hydrogel promotes arterial vessel wall remodeling and a fibroinflammatory response while undergoing significant biodegradation such that only 25% of the embolic material remains at 14 days. With its unprecedented proregenerative, antibacterial properties coupled with favorable mechanical properties, and its superior performance in anticoagulated blood, the ECM-based hydrogel has the potential to be a next-generation biofunctional embolic agent that can successfully treat a wide range of vascular diseases.