Extraction of cells for single-stage seeding of vascular-bypass grafts

Experimental data are reported for the seeding of prosthetic vascular grafts with either mesothelial or endothelial cells as part of a research strategy in tissue engineering with the aim of improving graft patency and developing new techniques for single-stage cell extraction and seeding that would give a step reduction in surgery time. New data are reported for two different sources of cells, peritoneal lavage and subcutaneous fat. All experiments were undertaken in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Cells extracted from peritoneal lavage were insufficient for a single-stage seeding process. Subcutaneous fat was processed using either a positive cell-extraction method using CD31 Dynabeads or by a negative extraction method using CDw90-coated magnetic beads. Only positive cell extraction gave reliably sufficient numbers of endothelial cells as a source for single-stage seeding of vascular grafts.