Collagen membranes of dermal and pericardial origin—In vivo evolvement of vascularization over time

Abstract Aim of the study was to compare the evolvement of vascularization over time of collagen membranes (CMs) of dermal and pericardial origin in an in vivo animal study. Twenty‐eight mice underwent implantation of three commercially available CM derived from porcine dermis (homogenous structure: CM1 (Control 1) and bilayer structure: CM2 [Control 2]), from porcine pericardium (CM3; Test 1) as well as CM3 sprayed with silica‐enhanced nanostructured hydroxyapatite (CM4, Test 2). After 3, 6, 9, and 12 days, intravital fluorescence microscopy was conducted for determination of capillary diameter, density, flow, and length. At Day 12, samples were examined immunohistologically for expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), CD11b, CD68, αSMA, and CD34. In all CM, intravital fluorescence microscopy over time showed increasing values for all parameters with the highest levels in CM4 and the lowest values in CM1. Significant lower amounts of FGFR4, CD11b, and CD68 were detected in CM4 when compared to CM2 (p <.05). In contrast to CM3, lower values of αSMA and higher numbers of CD34 positive‐marked vessels were observed in CM4 (p <.05). In conclusion, dermal bilayer as well as pericardial CM seem to have a higher vascularization rate than dermal homogenous CM. Additional coating of pericardial CM with a silica‐enhanced hydroxyapatite increases the speed of vascularization as well as biological remodeling processes.