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Small Diameter Vascular Grafts Made in Minutes
Michael M Peters1,2, Kirstin Atrott3, Dennis Zorndt4
1Disease Biophysics Group, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|April 17, 2026
Summary
This study introduces Focused Rotary Jet Spinning (FRJS) for rapid, point-of-care fabrication of custom vascular grafts. The new method shows promise for intraoperative generation of tailored vascular conduits with sustained patency.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Current vascular grafts face limitations due to variable vessel dimensions and shapes.
- Autologous grafts are invasive, and synthetic prostheses can degrade or lack customization.
- Need for rapid, on-demand fabrication of patient-specific vascular conduits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an additive manufacturing strategy for rapid, point-of-care fabrication of customizable vascular grafts.
- To utilize Focused Rotary Jet Spinning (FRJS) for creating small-caliber vascular grafts.
- To evaluate the in vivo performance of FRJS-fabricated vascular grafts.
Main Methods:
- Focused Rotary Jet Spinning (FRJS) was employed for rapid, point-of-care graft fabrication.
- Independent control over nanofiber alignment and vessel dimensions was achieved.
- In vivo evaluation using a rat femoral artery replacement model over four weeks.
Main Results:
- FRJS enabled rapid fabrication of customizable small-caliber vascular grafts within minutes.
- Grafts exhibited appropriate mechanical properties and flow characteristics.
- Four-week in vivo studies demonstrated sustained vascular patency and early tissue remodeling.
Conclusions:
- Additive manufacturing via FRJS offers a viable solution for creating tailored vascular conduits.
- The technique supports intraoperative generation of patient-specific vascular grafts.
- FRJS-fabricated grafts show potential for clinical application in vascular reconstruction.
