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Micropatterning and Assembly of 3D Microvessels
Published on: September 9, 2016
Silk fibroin microtubes for blood vessel engineering
Michael Lovett1, Christopher Cannizzaro, Laurence Daheron
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA 02155, USA.
Biomaterials
|August 31, 2007
Summary
Silk fibroin microtubes show promise for microvascular grafts, outperforming current synthetic options. Tailoring porosity controls mechanical strength and cell interaction for effective blood vessel repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Current synthetic grafts have limited success in microvascular repair (<6mm inner diameter).
- Silk fibroin offers biocompatibility and suturability, making it a potential scaffold material.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize silk fibroin microtubes for microvascular graft applications.
- To evaluate the impact of microtube porosity on mechanical properties and biological interactions.
Main Methods:
- Silk fibroin microtubes were fabricated using a dipping method with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to control porosity.
- Microtube properties assessed included pore size, burst strength, protein permeability, enzymatic degradation, and cell migration.
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) were used to assess cellular barrier function.
Main Results:
- Microtube porosity significantly influenced mechanical strength and permeability.
- Low porosity microtubes had higher burst strength but limited protein transport.
- High porosity microtubes exhibited lower burst strength but enhanced permeability and cell migration.
Conclusions:
- Silk fibroin microtubes offer tunable properties for microvascular repair.
- Porosity control is key to balancing mechanical integrity and biological function.
- These microtubes are a promising biomaterial for microvascular grafts, with or without preseeded cells.
