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Tissue engineered vessel from a biodegradable electrospun scaffold stimulated with mechanical stretch
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States of America.
Biomedical Materials (Bristol, England)
|April 30, 2020
Summary
Mechanical stimulation significantly enhances collagen content and mechanical strength in tissue engineered vascular grafts, making them promising for cardiovascular disease treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Small diameter vascular grafts are crucial for treating cardiovascular disease.
- Tissue engineered vascular grafts offer a potential alternative to synthetic grafts.
- Current limitations include poor mechanical properties and limited integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of mechanical stimulation on the development of tissue engineered vascular grafts.
- To evaluate the extracellular matrix composition and mechanical properties of stimulated versus static grafts.
- To assess the suitability of electrospun scaffolds combined with biomimetic culture for vascular graft applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of polyglycolic acid (PGA) electrospun scaffolds with enhanced porosity using sacrificial microparticles.
- Seeding scaffolds with human dermal fibroblasts and culturing under pulsatile circumferential mechanical stretch.
- Comparison of mechanically stimulated grafts with static controls using histology, collagen quantification, and mechanical testing (UTS, EM).
Main Results:
- Mechanically stimulated grafts showed a 60% greater collagen content compared to static grafts.
- Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elastic modulus (EM) were significantly higher in stimulated grafts (UTS: 1.86 MPa, EM: 7.62 MPa) versus static grafts (UTS: 0.31 MPa, EM: 1.37 MPa).
- Collagen content, not cross-linking, was the primary determinant of improved mechanical properties.
Conclusions:
- Circumferential mechanical stretch significantly enhances collagen deposition and mechanical strength in tissue engineered vascular grafts.
- Electrospun scaffolds combined with biomimetic pulsatile perfusion systems are ideal for creating vascular grafts with suitable extracellular matrix.
- These findings support the potential of tissue engineered vascular grafts as a viable option for patients with cardiovascular disease.
