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Updated: Nov 25, 2025
Femoral Vascular Graft Implantation in a Swine Model to Test Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts
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Future Perspectives in Small-Diameter Vascular Graft Engineering
Panagiotis Mallis1, Alkiviadis Kostakis2, Catherine Stavropoulos-Giokas1
1Hellenic Cord Blood Bank, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, 115 27 Athens, Greece.
Insights
Tissue engineering offers solutions for small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD). This review highlights current methodologies and future perspectives for engineered SDVGs in reconstructive surgery.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Surgery
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) presents a significant global health burden, with vessel narrowing or occlusion being common manifestations.
- Autologous grafts are used for damaged vessel replacement but have drawbacks, necessitating alternative solutions.
- The demand for small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) drives research into tissue engineering approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current engineering approaches for small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs).
- To present state-of-the-art methodologies in SDVG development.
- To discuss future perspectives in SDVG engineering for cardiovascular reconstructive surgery.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on small-diameter vascular graft (SDVG) engineering.
- Analysis of various materials including non-degradable/degradable and naturally derived options.
- Inclusion of decellularized vessels as a source for engineered SDVGs.
Main Results:
- Multiple SDVG engineering strategies are available, utilizing diverse biomaterials.
- Decellularized vessels offer a promising alternative source for SDVG development.
- Current methodologies represent the state-of-the-art in the field.
Conclusions:
- Engineered SDVGs hold significant potential to improve cardiovascular reconstructive surgery outcomes.
- Advancements in SDVG engineering can address the growing clinical need for effective vascular grafts.
- This field offers promising future perspectives for enhancing patient quality of life affected by CVD.
Abstract:
The increased demands of small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) globally has forced the scientific society to explore alternative strategies utilizing the tissue engineering approaches. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) comprises one of the most lethal groups of non-communicable disorders worldwide. It has been estimated that in Europe, the healthcare cost for the administration of CVD is more than 169 billion €. Common manifestations involve the narrowing or occlusion of blood vessels. The replacement of damaged vessels with autologous grafts represents one of the applied therapeutic approaches in CVD. However, significant drawbacks are accompanying the above procedure; therefore, the exploration of alternative vessel sources must be performed. Engineered SDVGs can be produced through the utilization of non-degradable/degradable and naturally derived materials. Decellularized vessels represent also an alternative valuable source for the development of SDVGs. In this review, a great number of SDVG engineering approaches will be highlighted. Importantly, the state-of-the-art methodologies, which are currently employed, will be comprehensively presented. A discussion summarizing the key marks and the future perspectives of SDVG engineering will be included in this review. Taking into consideration the increased number of patients with CVD, SDVG engineering may assist significantly in cardiovascular reconstructive surgery and, therefore, the overall improvement of patients' life.
