Blood Flow Within Bioengineered 3D Printed Vascular Constructs Using the Porcine Model.

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Biofabrication technologies enable 3D engineered tissues with vascular networks for oxygen and nutrient delivery.
• Large-scale engineered tissues hold promise for regenerative medicine, but in vivo implantation is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a surgical model for in vivo implantation and vascular connection of 3D printed hydrogels.
• To assess the feasibility of direct in-line vascular connection using a porcine arteriovenous shunt model.

Main Methods:

• Utilized projection stereolithography to fabricate perfusable poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels.
• Developed and optimized a surgical implantation procedure in deceased piglets.
• Evaluated blood flow and connection robustness in a porcine arteriovenous shunt model.

Main Results:

• Established robust connections between the host femoral artery and vein.
• Patterned vascular channels in PEGDA hydrogels withstood arterial pressure.
• Sustained blood flow through the implanted hydrogels for up to 6 hours.

Conclusions:

• Demonstrated a viable surgical approach for in-line implantation of 3D printed hydrogels into host vasculature.
• The surgical model is suitable for assessing biomaterials under physiological vascular conditions.
• This work is a critical step towards transplantable engineered organs and regenerative medicine applications.