Biological Xenogenic Vessel Prostheses: Effect of H2O/CO2 and EtOH Media on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of the Bovine Jugular Veins

Abstract

The effect of the H₂O/CO₂ and EtOH/CO₂ media at pressures and temperatures corresponding to the formation of supercritical (sc) carbon dioxide on the structure and mechanical properties of bovine jugular veins was studied for the first time. Treatment of bovine jugular veins in an sc-CO₂ + ethanol or sc-CO₂ + water medium considerably devitalized the tissue and increased the tissue elasticity, which allows considering the treated veins as promising vascular grafts with expected high capacity to suppress calcification and good hemodynamic properties.