Mammalian Pericardium-Based Bioprosthetic Materials in Xenotransplantation and Tissue Engineering

Bioprosthetic materials based on mammalian pericardium tissue are the gold standard in reconstructive surgery. Their application range covers repair of rectovaginal septum defects, abdominoplastics, urethroplasty, duraplastics, maxillofacial, ophthalmic, thoracic and cardiovascular reconstruction, etc. However, a number of factors contribute to the success of their integration into the host tissue including structural organization, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, immunogenicity, surface chemistry, biodegradability etc. In order to improve the material's properties, various strategies have been developed, such as decellularization, crosslinking and detoxification. In this review, we have analyzed the existing issues and long-term achievements in the development of bioprosthetic materials based on the mammalian pericardium tissue, aimed at a wide-spectrum application in reconstructive surgery. We described the basic technical approaches to preparation of biocompatible forms providing continuous functioning, optimization of biomechanical and functional properties and clinical applicability. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.