Multi-Scale Mechanics of Cryopreserved Human Arterial Allografts Across a Six-Month Period

Operating under septic conditions poses significant challenges in vascular surgery. Infection is a serious risk when handling synthetic vessel prostheses and is one of the most dreaded complications. In the event of graft infection, an infection-resistant alternative is necessary. Cryopreserved vasc...

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Main Authors: Gergely Imre Kovács, László Hidi, Evelin Forró, Dóra Haluszka, Dániel Sándor Veres, Gergő Péter Gyurok, Andrea Kőszegi, Attila Fintha, Miklós Kellermayer, Péter Sótonyi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Functional Biomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/6/198
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author Gergely Imre Kovács
László Hidi
Evelin Forró
Dóra Haluszka
Dániel Sándor Veres
Gergő Péter Gyurok
Andrea Kőszegi
Attila Fintha
Miklós Kellermayer
Péter Sótonyi
author_facet Gergely Imre Kovács
László Hidi
Evelin Forró
Dóra Haluszka
Dániel Sándor Veres
Gergő Péter Gyurok
Andrea Kőszegi
Attila Fintha
Miklós Kellermayer
Péter Sótonyi
author_sort Gergely Imre Kovács
collection DOAJ
description Operating under septic conditions poses significant challenges in vascular surgery. Infection is a serious risk when handling synthetic vessel prostheses and is one of the most dreaded complications. In the event of graft infection, an infection-resistant alternative is necessary. Cryopreserved vascular allografts offer a suitable alternative to replace an infected vessel or a section of a synthetic graft. However, there are no international guidelines for the preparation, storage, and thawing of such vessel grafts. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanical properties of human cryopreserved arteries across multiple scales, ranging from nanonewton to newton forces and identify the optimal cryogenic storage duration. Human arterial allograft samples were frozen in a slow, controlled process and stored at −80 °C. One native and four cryopreserved samples were examined during a six-month-long period. Dimethyl-sulphoxide was used as a cryoprotectant. The mechanical properties of fresh and stored samples were explored in uniaxial ring tests and nanoindentation. We found no significant changes in the multi-scale mechanical properties during the examination period. Our results indicate that the cryopreserved vascular allografts are mechanically stable for up to six months under cryogenic conditions; hence, they represent ideal samples in vascular surgery.
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series Journal of Functional Biomaterials
spelling doaj-art-806a17d0b87743449ed57af22bb5ca642025-08-20T03:27:33ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832025-05-0116619810.3390/jfb16060198Multi-Scale Mechanics of Cryopreserved Human Arterial Allografts Across a Six-Month PeriodGergely Imre Kovács0László Hidi1Evelin Forró2Dóra Haluszka3Dániel Sándor Veres4Gergő Péter Gyurok5Andrea Kőszegi6Attila Fintha7Miklós Kellermayer8Péter Sótonyi9Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Heart Surgery, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, HungaryOperating under septic conditions poses significant challenges in vascular surgery. Infection is a serious risk when handling synthetic vessel prostheses and is one of the most dreaded complications. In the event of graft infection, an infection-resistant alternative is necessary. Cryopreserved vascular allografts offer a suitable alternative to replace an infected vessel or a section of a synthetic graft. However, there are no international guidelines for the preparation, storage, and thawing of such vessel grafts. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanical properties of human cryopreserved arteries across multiple scales, ranging from nanonewton to newton forces and identify the optimal cryogenic storage duration. Human arterial allograft samples were frozen in a slow, controlled process and stored at −80 °C. One native and four cryopreserved samples were examined during a six-month-long period. Dimethyl-sulphoxide was used as a cryoprotectant. The mechanical properties of fresh and stored samples were explored in uniaxial ring tests and nanoindentation. We found no significant changes in the multi-scale mechanical properties during the examination period. Our results indicate that the cryopreserved vascular allografts are mechanically stable for up to six months under cryogenic conditions; hence, they represent ideal samples in vascular surgery.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/6/198cryopreservationvascular allograftmechanicsnanoindentationuniaxial ring test
spellingShingle Gergely Imre Kovács
László Hidi
Evelin Forró
Dóra Haluszka
Dániel Sándor Veres
Gergő Péter Gyurok
Andrea Kőszegi
Attila Fintha
Miklós Kellermayer
Péter Sótonyi
Multi-Scale Mechanics of Cryopreserved Human Arterial Allografts Across a Six-Month Period
Journal of Functional Biomaterials
cryopreservation
vascular allograft
mechanics
nanoindentation
uniaxial ring test
title Multi-Scale Mechanics of Cryopreserved Human Arterial Allografts Across a Six-Month Period
title_full Multi-Scale Mechanics of Cryopreserved Human Arterial Allografts Across a Six-Month Period
title_fullStr Multi-Scale Mechanics of Cryopreserved Human Arterial Allografts Across a Six-Month Period
title_full_unstemmed Multi-Scale Mechanics of Cryopreserved Human Arterial Allografts Across a Six-Month Period
title_short Multi-Scale Mechanics of Cryopreserved Human Arterial Allografts Across a Six-Month Period
title_sort multi scale mechanics of cryopreserved human arterial allografts across a six month period
topic cryopreservation
vascular allograft
mechanics
nanoindentation
uniaxial ring test
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/6/198
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