Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Use of Human Perivascular Stem Cells for Bone Regeneration
Published on: May 25, 2012
Heparin and adipose stem cell exosome functionalization improves performance of SIS/PLCL small-diameter vascular
Yujia Zhao1, Bo Li2, Shengxin Zhai3
1Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Intelligent Medicine, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122, PR China; Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 44 Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110801, PR China.
Introduction:
The development of small-diameter vascular grafts remains clinically challenging. Decellularized small intestinal submucosa (SIS) is a promising candidate biomaterial for vascular grafts owing to the satisfactory biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. Nevertheless, its efficacy remains limited, primarily by thrombosis or dilation-induced failure.
Objectives:
This study presents a novel SIS / Poly (L-Lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) composite graft co-functionalized with heparin and human adipose-derived stem cell exosomes (HASCs-Exo) , aiming to meet the standards of blood vessel replacement.
Methods:
In this study, we fabricated SIS/PLCL hierarchical fibrous grafts via electrospinning, followed by a dual-functionalization strategy to load heparin and HASCs-Exo. The grafts were then evaluated in vitro and in vivo.
Results:
Comprehensive in vitro characterization revealed that the composite graft possessed optimal surface topography, enhanced tensile strength, sustained in situ release of HASCs-Exo, and favorable hemocompatibility. In a rat subcutaneous implantation model, the HASCs-Exo-modified SIS/PLCL grafts exhibited significantly improved biocompatibility, as evidenced by reduced inflammatory cell infiltration compared to unmodified SIS/PLCL grafts. In rabbit carotid artery replacement experiments, HASCs-Exo-modified SIS/PLCL grafts demonstrated superior performance, evidenced by a higher patency rate on Doppler ultrasound and enhanced endothelialization confirmed by CD31 and eNOS immunofluorescent staining. Mass spectrometry and Western blot showed that ATP2B1 was enriched in HASCs-Exo. Mechanistic studies further demonstrated that HASCs-Exo promoted endothelial cell functionality by upregulating eNOS and VEGF through ATP2B1.
Conclusion:
This study presents a novel strategy that combinines HASCs-Exo with SIS/PLCL grafts to fabricate functional small-diameter vascular grafts, achieving dual optimization of mechanical integrity and endothelialization capacity.
