The characteristics and cytocomptibility of genipin-fixed porcine aorta were investigated in vitro to provide the proper biomaterials for fabrication of esophageal prosthesis. The porcine aortas were treated by genipin for 7min to 7day. The biological materials fixed with genipin were then examined with naked-eye and light microscope. Subsequently, the fixation index determination, the biomechanics test, in vitro enzymatic degradation and denaturation temperature measurement were also performed. The cytocomptibility of the genipin-fixed materials was evaluated in vitro by MTT assay using human esophageal epithelial cells as test cells. The experimental results indicated that the antigenicity of porcine aorta tissues could be diminished by genipin through getting rid of cell in the porcine aorta tissues or reducing the level of free amino groups in the porcine aorta tissues. The structural integrity of porcine aorta tissues can be preserved after treating with genipin. It was also found that the genipin-fixed porcine aorta tissues appeared more toughness and visco-elasticity, and should be a promising material for fabricating esophageal prosthesis. The genipin-fixed porcine aorta tissues were provided with a high ability to resistance against enzymatic degradation that made this material suitable to be an implant material. The genipin-fixed porcine aorta tissues showed a good cytocomptibility that the human esophageal epithelial cells could proliferate well on it. Among the porcine aorta tissues fixed with genipin, the tissues that were fixed at pH 4.0, 0.625g/100ml initial fixative concentrations for 7 day showed a more favorable characteristic. In conclusion, the Genipin-fixed porcine aorta should be a promising material for fabricating esophageal prosthesis or fabricating scaffold of tissue-engineered esophagus.
