Cross-linking porcine peritoneum by oxidized konjac glucomannan: a novel method to improve the properties of cardiovascular substitute material

The use of natural polysaccharide crosslinkers for decellularized matrices is an effective approach to prepare cardiovascular substitute materials. In this research, NaIO 4 was applied to oxidize konjac glucomannan to prepare the polysaccharide crosslinker oxidized konjac glucomannan (OKGM). The as-prepared crosslinker was then used to stabilize collagen-rich decellularized porcine peritoneum (DPP) to construct a cardiovascular substitute material (OKGM-fixed DPP). The results demonstrated that compared with GA-fixed DPP and GNP-fixed DPP, 3.75% OKGM [1:1.5 (KGM: NaIO 4 )]-fixed DPP demonstrated suitable mechanical properties, as well as good hemocompatibility, excellent anti-calcification capability, and anti-enzymolysis in vitro. Furthermore, 3.75% OKGM [1:1.5 (KGM: NaIO 4 )]-fixed DPP was suitable for vascular endothelial cell adhesion and rapid proliferation, and a single layer of endothelial cells was formed on the fifth day of culture. The in vivo experimental results also showed excellent histocompatibility. The current results demonstrted that OKGM was a novel polysaccharide cross-linking reagent for crosslinking natural tissues featured with rich collagen content, and 3.75% OKGM [1:1.5 (KGM: NaIO 4 )]-fixed DPP was a potential cardiovascular substitute material. Graphical Abstract