Construction of Oriented Structure in Inner Surface of Small-Diameter Artificial Blood Vessels: A Review

There is an urgent need for small-diameter artificial blood vessels in clinic. Physical, chemical and biological factors should be integrated to avoid thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia after implantation and to promote successful fabrication of small-diameter artificial blood vessels. From a physical perspective, the internal oriented structures of natural blood vessels plays an important role in guiding the directional growth of cells, improving the blood flow environment, and promoting the re...     

Electrospun Small Diameter Tubes to Mimic Mechanical Properties of Native Blood Vessels Using Poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone )and Silk Fibroin: a Preliminary Study

Mismatch in mechanical properties can induce intimal hyperplasia,which is one of the main reasons for the failure of small diameter artificial blood vessels. Electrospun small diameter tubes with tailored mechanical properties were fabricated through blending poly( L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone)( PLCL) and silk fibroin( SF)with the mass ratios of 30 /70,50 /50,and 70 /30 in this study.Scanning electron microscopy( SEM) and mechanical testing were used to characterize morphological and mechanical properties of the tubes. Results showed that tensile strength of the tubes was higher than most of the native blood vessels,and elongations at break of them were improved greatly by blending PLCL. Compliances of the tubes were all higher than 1% /13. 33 kPa( 1% /100 mmHg).Particularly,tubes with blending mass ratio of 50 /50 showed similar compliance with human native femoral arteries,which provided a promising biomaterial that could be applied on small diameter vascular applications.     

Structure Changes of Silk Fibroin（SF） by Blending with Poly（ε-caprolactone）（PCL）：Characterization of SF and PCL Blended Electrospinning Films

The mechanical properties and water solubility of electrospinning SF films limit their use as biomaterials. In order to develop a tissue engineering biomaterial with both satisfying biological properties and sufficient biomechanical properties,blended films composed of silk fibroin（ SF） and poly（ ε-caprolactone）（ PCL） were fabricated by electrospinning in this study. Scanning electron microscope（ SEM）, X-ray diffraction（ XRD）,thermal analysis,Fourier transform-infrared（ FT-IR）,Raman spectra,mechanical testing,and water solubility were used to characterize the morphological, structural and mechanical properties of the blended electrospinning films. Results showed that the diameter of the blended fiber was distributed between 600 and1000 nm,and the fiber diameter increased as the PCL content increased. There is no obvious phase separation due to the similarity and intermiscibility,as well as the interactions（ mainly hydrogen bonds）, between the two polymers. Meanwhile, the secondary structures of SF changed from random coils and Silk I to Silk II because of the interactions between SF and PCL. For this reason,the tensile strength and elongation at break of the electrospinning films improved significantly,and the water solubility decreased. In conclusion,the blended electrospinning films fabricated in this study showed satisfying mechanical properties and water insolubilities,and they may be promising biomaterials for applications in tissue engineering for blood vessels,nerve conduits,tendons,ligaments and other tissues.     

Physical Characteristics of Knitted Polyester Vascular Prostheses： Can the Wall Be Considered as a Scaffold for Tissue Regeneration？

Recent developments in endovascular surgery (EVAR) have opened new avenues to successfully treat aneurysms with percutaneous deployment of stent-grafts.Manufacturers have preferred to use woven fabrics or micro-porous tubes which are supported by metallic frames or stents.Woven fabrics are much thinner than knits and this permits the use of a smaller delivery catheter.However,since woven constructions are stiffer and have little porosity,the tissue ingrowth is poor or absent.On the other hand,knitted constructions can be considered as a scaffold for tissue ingrowth,and hence they represent an attractive alternative because of their open structure and better conformability in the case of balloon deployment.The present study was undertaken to analyze the properties of two knitted and crimped polyester arterial prototype prostheses,one with and the other without a gelatin coating as sealant.Two commercial controls were also included in the study,namely the uncoated knitted polyester vascular prosthesis VP1200K,and its sealed version,the gelatin coated polyester knitted Gelsoft device,manufactured by Vascutek Ltd.,Scotland,UK.In vitro testing consisted of analyzing the geometry and morphology of the yarn and fabric structures,and measuring the physical and mechanical properties of the grafts,including the water permeability,the longitudinal and radial compliance,and the suture retention strength.In order to compare the different properties of the four samples,tests were also performed on the gelatin coated or sealed devices before and after gelatin removal.The results provided a useful comparison between the prototypes and the commercial control devices.The latter used ten times the amount of gelatin which had been applied as a coating in order to achieve the same low level of impermeability to water.The different amounts of gelatin also explained the different mechanical performance,such as compliance,for these prototype and control prostheses.