Decellularized tissue engineering scaffolds appear to have the properties of similar structure and mechanical characteristics to native tissues，good biocompatibility，suitability for cell adhesion，growth and angiogenesis induction，and non-immunogenicity. Genipin has anti-inflammatory，antithrombotic and antioxidative features which can considerably suppress vascular and endothelial inflammatory activation，increase mechanical strength of biological scaffolds，inhibit inflammatory response and decrease degradation rate of biological scaffolds. By cross-linking with decellularized matrices，Genipin can further improve corresponding performance of tissue engineering matrices，which is very helpful to promote the application of tissue engineering into clinical practice of cardiothoracic surgery. This review focuses on recent research process and possible prospects of Genipin cross-linking in tissue engineering in the field of cardiothoracic surgery.
Objective To review the application of genipin for the modification of natural biomaterials as a crosslinking agent and progress in research. Methods Domestic and foreign literature on application of genipin for the modification of natural biomaterials as a crosslinking agent was thoroughly reviewed. Results Genipin is an effective natural crosslinking agent with a very low level of cytotoxicity compared with conventional synthetic crosslinking agents. Tissues fixed with genipin can maintain a high level of stability as well as resistance to enzymatic degradation. Conclusion Genipin is a promising substitute for conventional synthetic crosslinking agents, which has offered an alternative for modification of natural biomaterials for tissue engineering.
Objective To compare the characteristics of gelatin microspheres crossl inked by glutaraldehyde (GA) or geni pin (GP). Methods Gelatin microspheres, prepared by the improved emulsified cold-condensation method, were crossl inked by GP and GA, respectively. After being dispersed in PBS, two kinds of microspheres with 60% degree of cross l inking were compared in terms of morphology, swell ing and degrading properties. rhBMP-2 were loaded into the GP and GAmicrospheres, and the encapsulation rate, drug loading and releasing capacity were measured; 100%, 50% and 25% leaching l iquid of GP and GA microspheres were respectively cultured with rat osteoblast (DMEM group as the control), and cell prol iferation was measured by MTT method to grade the cell cytotoxicity. Results GP and GA microspheres were both spherical with the diameters of (78 ± 18) μm and (65 ± 10) μm, and there were no difference between both microspheres in drug loading and encapsulation rate. But, GP microspheres, with long degrading period (28 days) compared to GA microspheres (21 days), had better dispersibil ity, and swell ing rate (89.0% ± 4.8%), the percentage of cumulative drug releasing at 10 days (78.80% ± 4.96%) were both lower than GA microsphere (118.0% ± 7.6%, 90.50% ± 5.12%). The percentages of drug loading of GP and GA were (921 ± 73) and (965 ± 62) ng/g, and the encapsulation rates were 88.5% ± 2.1% and 89.7% ± 1.8%; showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05). The cell cytotoxicity of 100%, 50% and 25% leaching l iquid of GP microspheres was all at the level I, but leaching l iquid of GA microspheres with corresponding concentration were at the levels of III, III and II. Conclusion GP crossl inked gelatin microspheres are superior to GA crossl inked gelatin microspheres and can be widely used in tissue engineering field.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of modification of acellular bovine pericardium with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dinethylami-nopropyl) carbodimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccininide (NHS) or genipin and find out the best crosslinking reagent. MethodsThe cellular components of the bovine pericardiums were removed. The effects of decellularization were tested by HE staining. The acellular bovine pericardiums were crosslinked with EDC/NHS (EDC/NHS group) or genipin (genipin group). The properties of the crosslinked acellular matrix were evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), matrix thickness, crosslinking index, mechanical property, denaturation temperature, enzymatic degradation, and cytotoxicity test before and after the crosslinking. Acellular bovine pericardium (ABP group) or normal bovine pericardium (control group) were harvested as controls. ResultsSEM showed that collagen fibers were reticulated in bovine pericardial tissues after crosslinked by EDC/NHS or genipin, and relative aperture of the collagen fiber was from 10 to 20 μm. The thickness and denaturation temperature of the scaffolds were increased significantly after crosslinking with EDC/NHS or genipin (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between EDC/NHS group and genipin group (P>0.05). The difference had no statistical significance in crosslinking index between EDC/NHS group and genipin group (t=0.205, P=0.218). The degradation rate in EDC/NHS group and genipin group was significantly lower than that in ABP group and control group (P<0.05). Elastic modulus and fracture stress in EDC/NHS group and genipin group were significantly lower than those in ABP group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among EDC/NHS group, genipin group, and control group (P>0.05). The break elongation in EDC/NHS group and genipin group were significantly increased than those in ABP group and control group (P<0.05). The difference had no statistical significance in stability and mechanical properties between EDC/NHS group and genipin group (P>0.05). Cytotoxicity of genipin crosslinked tissue (grade 1) were much lower than that of EDC/NHS (grade 2) at 5 days. ConclusionAcellular bovine pericardium crosslinked with genipin has better biocompatibility than EDC/NHS.