Bovine jugular vein valved conduit: a new hybrid method of devitalization and protection by chitosan-based coatings using super- and subrcritical СО2

Abstract Here we report on the structure and mechanical properties of native bovine jugular veins (BJVs). The veins were pretreated with co-solvents in supercritical (sc) CO2 and cross-linked by glutaraldehyde veins coated with chitosan from solutions in carbonic acid). The novel hybrid treatment method was developed using rapid processing in SDS (1 h) and treatment in scCO2 adding the non-ionic detergent (Tween-80) (1 h). The hybrid method allows to decellularize the tissue completely, preserving the structure of the extracellular matrix, and at the same time to significantly increase the elasticity of vein tissue, bringing it closer to the human pulmonary artery in its properties (E∼8 MPa). Protective chitosan-based coatings, deposited onto the tissue (∼0.8 weight % for chitosan, 0.45 % for chitosan/Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)) from the water/subcritical CO2 system (3 h), mask free aldehyde groups, smooth the surface of veins and maintain the elastic properties of the tissue.