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An Automated Modular Platform for Vascular Graft Assessment via Coronary-like Flow-Induced Stimulation.
Elia Pederzani1, Lucrezia Moro1, Alessia Sofia Bolandrina1
1Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 27, 2026
Summary
A new automated platform precisely measures tissue-engineered vascular graft (TEVG) compliance and simulates coronary blood flow, addressing key challenges in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Vascular Tissue Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) show promise for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), but mechanical and biological complexities hinder their success.
- Challenges include compliance mismatch, altered hemodynamics, and poor endothelialization, leading to graft failure.
- Advanced experimental platforms are needed to study biomechanisms and improve TEVG development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an automated, modular platform for quantitative graft compliance characterization.
- To replicate coronary hemodynamics and investigate biomechanisms underlying CABG failure.
- To provide a standardized tool for evaluating TEVGs under physiological conditions.
Main Methods:
- Developed an automated, modular platform with incubator compatibility for TEVG testing.
- Integrated real-time monitoring of physical parameters and automated experimental procedures.
- Utilized dedicated control algorithms for adaptability across various experimental conditions.
Main Results:
- The platform accurately quantifies graft compliance and replicates pressure regimes per ISO standards.
- It successfully generates coronary-like flow-induced stimuli.
- Demonstrated the system's capability for controlled, physiologically relevant mechanical stimulation.
Conclusions:
- The developed platform offers a novel solution for studying TEVG biomechanics.
- It facilitates investigation into CABG failure mechanisms by providing controlled hemodynamic conditions.
- This tool advances mechanobiological studies in vascular tissue engineering.
