A fabrication method for artificial small-diameter vascular grafts with multi-layer walls: stepwise lyophilization

Artificial small-diameter vascular grafts (sdVGs) offer a promising alternative to autologous vessels. However, suboptimal wall architecture and mechanical mismatch can lead to complications. The modular mold-assisted stepwise lyophilization was introduced to precisely control the length, inner diameter, wall thickness, and layer configuration for fabricating multi-layer sdVGs. The artificial sdVGs were fabricated from biodegradable PU1 and biostable PU2 via stepwise lyophilization in custom molds, enabling precise control over wall layers and dimensions. The grafts were characterized for microstructure, mechanical properties, and cytotoxicity. The stepwise-lyophilized sdVGs exhibited well-integrated layers, solvent-free structures, and precise dimensional control. As the solid content of polymer solution increasing, the porosity, average pore size, and large pore proportion of the artificial sdVGs decreased, while the mechanical strength correspondingly increased. The effects of mixed solvents on pore architectures and mechanical properties varied significantly depending on the mixing ratio, but there was no clear pattern. Additionally, differences in solvent polarity may lead to the delamination of the wall of multi-layer sdVGs. With the decrease of freezing temperature, the porosity and average pore size of the artificial sdVGs also declined, but the mechanical performance did not always correlate with the pore architecture, allowing for better mechanical properties even at larger pore sizes. The stepwise lyophilization enables the customization of artificial sdVGs with tunable structural, and mechanical and biological properties, providing a framework for the fabrication of biomimetic and biosafe sdVGs.