Fabrication of compliant hybrid grafts supported with elastomeric meshes

We devised tubular hybrid medial tissues with mechanical properties similar to those of native arteries, which were composed of bovine smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and type I collagen with minimal reinforcement with knitted fabric meshes made of synthetic elastomers. Three hybrid medial tissue models that incorporated segmented polyester (mesh A) or polyurethane-nylon (mesh B) meshes were designed: the inner, sandwich, and wrapping models. Hybrid medial tissues were prepared by pouring a cold mixed solution of SMCs and collagen into a tubular glass mold consisting of an inner mandrel and an outer sheath and subsequent thermal gelation, followed by further culture for 7 days. For the inner model, the mandrel was wrapped with a mesh. For the sandwich model, a cylindrically shaped mesh was incorporated into a space between the mandrel and the sheath. The wrapping model was prepared by wrapping a 7-day-incubated nonmesh gel with a mesh. The inner diameter was 3 mm, irrespective of the model, and the length was 2.5-4.0 cm, depending on the model. The intraluminal pressure-external diameter relationship showed that nonmesh and inner models had a very low burst strength below 50 mmHg, while the sandwich model ruptured at around 110-120 mmHg; no rupturing below 240 mmHg was observed for the wrapping model, regardless of the type of mesh used. Compliance values of wrapping and sandwich models were close to those of native arteries. Pressure-dependent distensibility characteristics similar to native arteries were observed for a mesh A wrapping model, whereas a mesh B wrapping model expanded almost linearly as intraluminal pressure increased, which appeared to be due to elasticity of the incorporated mesh. Thus, design criteria for hybrid vascular grafts with appropriate biomechanical matching with host arteries were established. Such hybrid grafts may be mechanically adapted in an arterial system.