A Strategy of Functional Crosslinking Acellular Matrix in Blood-Contacting Implantable Devices with Recombinant Humanized Collagen Type III (rhCOLIII)

This study presents a one-pot radical polymerization strategy to functionalize decellularized porcine pericardium for blood-contacting implantable devices, with a focus on heart valve applications. A tailored recombinant humanized collagen type III (rhCOLIII), engineered to eliminate platelet-binding motifs while retaining cytocompatibility, was covalently crosslinked to the acellular matrix using glycidyl methacrylate. The modified tissues exhibited significantly enhanced tensile strength, improved resistance to enzymatic degradation, and markedly reduced platelet adhesion and thrombogenesis compared with glutaraldehyde-fixed controls. In vitro and in vivo evaluations demonstrated reduced inflammatory responses, improved hemocompatibility, and lower calcification following implantation. The results establish functional crosslinking with rhCOLIII as an effective strategy for improving the mechanical performance and biocompatibility of ECM-based heart valve materials.