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Vascular Tissue Engineering: Polymers and Methodologies for Small Caliber Vascular Grafts.
Bruna B J Leal1,2, Naohiro Wakabayashi3, Kyohei Oyama3
1Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
|February 15, 2021
Summary
Developing small-caliber synthetic vascular grafts is crucial for treating cardiovascular disease. Innovative tissue engineering methods and novel polymers are being explored to improve graft performance and overcome limitations of current treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is a leading global cause of mortality.
- Current treatments for small-caliber vascular replacement rely on autologous grafts, which have significant limitations.
- There is a critical need for effective small-caliber synthetic vascular grafts (<5 mm).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methodologies for developing scaffold-based vascular grafts.
- To discuss novel polymers used in vascular tissue engineering.
- To highlight advancements in creating synthetic grafts for small-caliber revascularization.
Main Methods:
- Review of electrospinning, decellularization, lyophilization, and 3D printing techniques.
- Analysis of various polymers for vascular graft applications.
- Evaluation of *in vitro* and *in vivo* performance of engineered grafts.
Main Results:
- Synthetic grafts for small-caliber vessels face challenges like thrombus formation and intimal hyperplasia.
- Innovative tissue engineering approaches show promise in overcoming these challenges.
- Novel polymers are being investigated to enhance graft biocompatibility and functionality.
Conclusions:
- Advanced vascular tissue engineering methodologies are essential for developing functional small-caliber synthetic grafts.
- Continued research into novel polymers and fabrication techniques is vital for improving graft patency and clinical outcomes.
- Successful development of these grafts could significantly impact cardiovascular disease treatment.
