3D Printed Angiogenin-Functionalized Bioresorbable Tubular Conduits for Biological Vascularization

Structural integrity of blood vessels is critical for maintaining physiological function in vivo. Damage or obstruction of capillaries and vessels that disrupt normal blood flow can lead to severe pathological conditions. Cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and aneurysms account for nearly 25% of total mortality. To address this clinical challenge, a bioresorbable tubular stent was fabricated using a composite ink of silk fibroin (SF) and gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), followed by surface functionalization with angiogenin cues. Rheological analysis of 15% SF-GelMA inks demonstrated shear-thinning behavior with a thermosensitive sol-gel transition. 3D-printed stents showed post-printing mechanical stability and compliance, exhibiting ∼0.45 MPa tensile strength with ∼17% elongation, thereby mimicking native soft vascular tissue under wet conditions. Following angiogenin functionalization, the resultant stents evidenced 20-25% bioresorbability over 15 days with low hemolysis (∼1%) and ∼45% higher cell viability in vitro over 5 days. Additionally, the computational modeling outcome of strong, stable binding between angiogenic proteins and activated SF-GelMA stent aligns with experimental outcomes. Overall, this study demonstrates potential of a 3D-printed, angiogenin-functionalized SF-GelMA tubular stent as a promising candidate for cardiovascular tissue regeneration, offering a synergistic combination of structural fidelity, biocompatibility, and pro-angiogenic activity.