BIODEGRADABLE VASCULAR GRAFT REINFORCED WITH A BIODEGRADABLE SHEATH

Background. Tissue-engineered vascular grafts can be reinforced by a biostable or biodegradable polymer sheath. A combination of electrospinning, routinely used for fabrication of biodegradable tubular grafts, and the layer-by-layer coating allows forming a polymeric sheath ensuring long-term integrity and high biocompatibility of the vascular grafts after the implantation. Aim To evaluate mechanical properties and in vivo performance of biodegradable small-diameter vascular grafts with a reinforcing sheath.

Methods. Tubular grafts (4 mm diameter) were fabricated from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co3-hydroxyvalerate) and poly(ε-caprolactone) by emulsion electrospinning with the incorporation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into the inner third of the graft and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) along with stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) into the outer two thirds of the graft wall. Poly(ε-caprolactone) sheath was formed by the layer-by-layer coating. Upon graft fabrication, scanning electron microscopy was performed to assess the grafts’ surface, tensile testing allowed evaluating mechanical properties. The samples were implanted into the ovine carotid artery (n = 5 animals) for 12 months with the subsequent histological examination.

Results. Sintering temperature of 160°C during the extrusion allowed effective and delicate merging of poly(ε-caprolactone) coating with the outer surface of the poly(3hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/poly(ε-caprolactone) tubular graft. The thickness of poly(ε-caprolactone) fiber was 380–400 μm, the increment of the reinforcing filament was 1 mm. The reinforcing sheath led to a 3-fold increase in durability and elastic modulus of the vascular grafts. At the 12-months follow-up, the grafts reported retained integrity. No signs of inflammation or calcification were found.

Conclusion. The poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and poly(ε-caprolactone) vascular grafts with hierarchically incorporated growth factors and the reinforced poly(ε-caprolactone) spiral sheath demonstrated improved mechanical properties while retaining integrity and high biocompatibility after the long-term implantation into the ovine carotid artery.

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