Artificial vascular implants from bacterial cellulose: preliminary results of small arterial substitutes

Abstract

The biomaterial bacterial cellulose (BC) represents an innovative approach for overcoming reconstructive problems associated with extended vascular diseases by providing small caliber vascular grafts (diameter 1.0-3.7, length 5.0-10.0, and wallthickness 0.7 mm). In a first microsurgical study, the BC implants were attached in an artificial defect of the carotid artery of rats for 1 year. These long term results show the incorporation of the BC under formation of neointima and ingrowth of active fibroblasts. In a second study, the grafts were used to replace the carotid arteries of pigs. After 3 months, these grafts were removed and analyzed both macroand microscopically. Seven grafts (87.5%) were patent whereas one graft was found occluded. These data indicate that the innovative BC engineering technique results in the production of stable vascular conduits and confirm a highly attractive approach to in vivo tissue engineered blood vessels as part of programs in cardiovascular surgery.

Never-dried bacterial cellulose/fibrin composites: preparation, morphology and mechanical properties

“…Indeed, cellulose, a polysaccharide of b-1,4 linkages glucose (Brown 1982) and fibrin, a blood protein (Laki 1968;Meszaros 1968) are both biocompatible and have antithrombogenic surfaces (Laki 1968;Klemm et al 2001;Helenius et al 2005;Swartz et al 2005;Prasad et al 2007;Pankajakshan and Krishnan 2009;Schumann et al 2009). BC has superior strength and is stable in the wet state (Astley et al 2003;Nakayama et al 2004) like native blood vessels but falls short in elasticity (Backdahl et al 2006).…”

β2integrins (CD11/18) are essential for the chemosensory adhesion and migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on bacterial cellulose

“…14,27 To date, there are no studies on the association between leukocytes and prosthetic BC under conditions of vascular inflammation. According to a recent study, PMN spreading on Ab-coated targets is completely dependent on Mac-1.…”

Bioactive 3D-Shaped Wound Dressings Synthesized from Bacterial Cellulose: Effect on Cell Adhesion of Polyvinyl Alcohol Integrated In Situ

“…These dressings are designed to prevent wound dehydration, promote healing [6], and reduce inflammatory and immune responses [7][8][9][10][11][12]. Modern wound dressings are classified as passive, interactive, or bioactive [6].…”