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Current biofabrication methods for vascular tissue engineering and an introduction to biological textiles
Fabien Kawecki1, Nicolas L'Heureux1
1Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BIOTIS, UMR1026, Bordeaux, F-33000, France.
Biofabrication
|February 27, 2023
Summary
Tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) offer a promising solution for small-diameter vessel repair, addressing limitations of synthetic and autologous options. Textile-inspired biofabrication methods accelerate production and enhance control over graft properties.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, are a major global cause of death.
- Current synthetic vascular grafts have poor outcomes in small-diameter applications (< 6 mm).
- Autologous vessels are limited in availability and quality for small vessel repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current scaffold-based and scaffold-free approaches for biofabricating tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs).
- To introduce biological textile approaches for TEVG development.
- To highlight advantages of textile-inspired methods in TEVG production.
Main Methods:
- Overview of scaffold-based tissue engineering for TEVGs.
- Overview of scaffold-free tissue engineering for TEVGs.
- Introduction to biological textile assembly methods for TEVGs.
Main Results:
- Textile-inspired approaches reduce production time compared to traditional bioreactor methods.
- These methods offer improved directional and regional control over TEVG mechanical properties.
- TEVGs aim to provide native-like mechanical and biological properties for small-diameter applications.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant clinical need for effective small-diameter vascular grafts.
- Tissue-engineering, particularly textile-inspired approaches, shows potential for overcoming limitations of current grafts.
- Further development of TEVGs is crucial for improving cardiovascular disease treatment outcomes.
