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Docetaxel (DTX), a paclitaxel analogue, can efficiently inhibit proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and has broadly been used as an antiangiogenesis drug. However, as a candidate drug of drug-eluting stent, the effects of DTX on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are still not well understood. Herein, we investigated the effects of DTX on proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, migration and morphology of HUVECs in vitro. We found that DTX had the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects at low and high concentrations, respectively. DTX could inhibit the proliferation and migration of HUVECs, induce HUVECs apoptosis, delay HUVECs adhesion and decrease spreading area and aspect ratio of individual cells. The signaling pathway that DTX led to the migration inhibition, adhesion delay and shape change of HUVECs is the VE-cadherin mediated integrin β1/FAK/ROCK signaling pathway. The study will provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of DTX.

In clinical practice, the need for small‐diameter vascular grafts continues to increase. Decellularized xenografts are commonly used for vascular reconstructive procedures. Here, porcine coronary arteries are decellularized, which destroys the extracellular matrix structure, leading to the decrease of vascular strength and the increase of vascular permeability. A bilayer tissue‐engineered vascular graft (BTEV) is fabricated by electrospinning poly(l‐lactide‐co‐carprolactone)/gelatin outside of the decellularized vessels and functionalized by immobilizing heparin, which increases the biomechanical strength and anticoagulant activity of decellularized vessels. The biosafety and efficacy of the heparin‐modified BTEVs (HBTEVs) are verified by implanting in rat models. HBTEVs remain patent and display no expansion or aneurism. After 4 weeks of implantation, a cell monolayer in the internal surface and a dense middle layer have formed, and the mechanical properties of regenerated vessels are similar to those of rat abdominal aorta. Therefore, HBTEVs can be used for rapid remodeling of small‐diameter blood vessels.

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