Tissue engineered in-vitro vascular patch fabrication using hybrid 3D printing and electrospinning

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cardiovascular Engineering

Background:

• Engineered cardiovascular tissues offer potential solutions for damaged heart structures.
• Tissue engineering vascular grafts (TEVG) aim to replace traditional biological and synthetic grafts.
• Patient-specific approaches are crucial for effective cardiovascular repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design an in-vitro patient-specific patch using hybrid 3D printing and vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation.
• To evaluate the most hemodynamically efficient aortic patch surgical repair for aortic arch hypoplasia.
• To assess the mechanical properties, cell infiltration, and functionality of the engineered graft.

Main Methods:

• Utilized medical imaging and computational modeling to determine optimal patch geometry.
• Employed hybrid fused deposition modeling (FDM) and electrospinning for scaffold fabrication.
• Seeded scaffolds with multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for differentiation into derived VSMC (dVSMC).

Main Results:

• The 3D-printed graft exhibited a burst pressure of 101 ± 15 mmHg, indicating adequate mechanical resistance.
• A porosity gradient (80 to 10 μm) facilitated cell infiltration throughout the patch.
• Demonstrated good cell viability at days 4 and 12, and a functional vasoactive response to endothelin-1.

Conclusions:

• The developed patient-specific 3D patch possesses favorable hemodynamic and mechanical profiles.
• The method supports dVSMC infiltration, viability, and functionality.
• This 3D biotechnology holds promise for regenerative medicine and heart disease prevention.