Wood-Derived Vascular Patches Loaded With Rapamycin Inhibit Neointimal Hyperplasia

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Vascular Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Current vascular patches often use prosthetics or animal-derived materials, with suboptimal healing for natural alternatives.
• Drug-eluting patches can inhibit neointimal hyperplasia, improving healing outcomes.
• Wood, an abundant plant material, presents a potential novel biomaterial for vascular applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using processed wood as a vascular patch.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility and mechanical properties of wood vascular patches.
• To assess the efficacy of drug-coated wood patches in inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia.

Main Methods:

• Wood patches were softened and coated with rhodamine and rapamycin.
• Patches were implanted in a rat inferior vena cava (IVC) model and analyzed after 14 days.
• Histological and cellular analyses were performed to assess biocompatibility and neointimal hyperplasia.

Main Results:

• Processed wood patches demonstrated softness, biocompatibility, and retained mechanical strength after IVC implantation.
• Rapamycin-coated wood patches significantly reduced neointimal thickness compared to controls (146.7 vs. 524.7 μm).
• Reduced proliferation markers (PCNA, α-actin) and inflammatory cells (CD68) were observed in rapamycin-treated patches.

Conclusions:

• Wood serves as a novel biomaterial for vascular patches and a scaffold for drug delivery.
• Plant-derived materials offer a promising alternative to traditional prosthetic or animal-based vascular materials.
• Wood vascular patches, especially when drug-eluted, effectively inhibit neointimal hyperplasia and promote healing.