Improved hemocompatibility by modifying acellular blood vessels with bivalirudin and its biocompatibility evaluation

Abstract The incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases is increasing year by year. The demand for coronary artery bypass grafting has been very large. Acellular blood vessels have potential clinical application because of their natural vascular basis, but their biocompatibility and anticoagulant energy need to be improved. We decellularized the abdominal aorta of SD rats, and then modified with bivalirudin via polydopamine. The mechanical properties, blood compatibility, cytocompatibility, immune response, and anticoagulant properties were evaluated, and then the bivalirudin‐modified acellular blood vessels were implanted into rats for remodeling evaluation in vivo. The results we got show that the bivalirudin‐modified acellular blood vessels showed good cytocompatibility and blood compatibility, and its anti‐inflammatory trend was dominant in the immune response. After 3 months of transplantation, the bivalirudin‐modified acellular blood vessels did not easily form thrombus. It was not easy to form calcification and could make the host cells grow better. Through vascular stimulation and immunofluorescence test, we found that vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells proliferated well in the bivalirudin group. Bivalirudin‐modified acellular blood vessels provided new idea for small diameter tissue engineering blood vessels, and may become a potential clinical substitute for small‐diameter vascular grafts.