Bioinspired 3D Multilayered Shape Memory Scaffold with a Hierarchically Changeable Micropatterned Surface for...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Vascular Engineering

Background:

• Achieving three-dimensional (3D) cell alignment and efficient tissue regeneration is a significant challenge in regenerative medicine.
• Native artery architecture provides inspiration for designing advanced vascular scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel 3D multilayered shape memory vascular scaffold with a hierarchically changeable micropatterned surface.
• To investigate the scaffold's ability to promote cell alignment and vascularization for tissue regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 3D multilayered shape memory vascular scaffold with distinct micropatterns on inner and outer layers.
• Co-culture of endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) on the scaffold.
• In vivo implantation in rabbit cervical arteries for 120 days to assess graft performance.

Main Results:

• The scaffold's shape memory function facilitated safe and minimally invasive surgical implantation.
• The inner layer's square micropattern promoted EC adhesion and migration, leading to rapid endothelialization.
• The outer layers' rectangular micropatterns induced circumferential alignment of VSMCs.
• Implanted grafts successfully generated functional blood vessels with organized endothelium and multilevel VSMC circumferential alignment.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D multilayered shape memory vascular scaffold effectively guides cellular alignment for vascular tissue regeneration.
• This scaffold shows potential for creating functional vascular grafts through minimally invasive procedures.