Dynamic Straining Combined with Fibrin Gel Cell Seeding Improves Strength of Tissue-Engineered Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts

Abstract

Vascular tissue engineering represents a promising approach for the development of living small-diameter vascular grafts that can be used for replacement therapy. The culture of strong human tissue-engineered (TE) vascular grafts has required long culture times, up to several months, whether or not combined with gene therapy. This article describes the culture of strong, genetically unmodified, human TE vascular grafts in 4 weeks Small-diameter vascular grafts were engineered using a fast-degrading polyglycolic acid scaffold coated with poly-4-hydroxybutyrate combined with fibrin gel and seeded with myofibroblasts isolated from discarded saphenous veins from patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. The TE grafts were subjected to dynamic strain conditions. After 28 d of in vitro culture, the grafts demonstrated burst pressures of 903 +/- 123 mmHg. Comparison with native vessels (intact human left internal mammary arteries (LIMAs) and saphenous veins) showed no significant differences in the amount of DNA, whereas the TE vessels contained approximately 50% of the native collagen content. In the physiological pressure range, up to 300 mmHg, the mechanical properties of the TE vessels were comparable to the LIMA. In this study, we showed that dynamic conditioning combined with fibrin gel cell seeding enhances the mechanical properties of small-diameter TE grafts. These grafts might provide a promising alternative to currently used vascular replacements.

Low Oxygen Concentrations Impair Tissue Development in Tissue-Engineered Cardiovascular Constructs

“…[4][5][6] Current available prostheses to replace diseased heart valves and coronary arteries have the disadvantage that they either need anticoagulation treatment to prevent thromboembolism or do not provide a life-time solution due to poor durability. 7 Cardiovascular tissue engineering seeks to overcome these problems by creating a living and autologous implant that will be able to grow, adapt, and remodel throughout a patient's life, without the need of anticoagulation therapy.…”

Design and Fabrication of PLGA Sandwiched Cell/Fibrin Constructs for Complex Organ Regeneration

“…In this study, we optimized current models using innovative new strategies to manufacture specific organs [26]. The development of a functioning, engineered vascular system, especially for smooth muscle tissue is most essential.…”

Phenotypic Fitness of Primary Endothelial Cells Cultured from Patients with High Cardiovascular Risk or Chronic Kidney Disease for Vascular Tissue Engineering

“…7,8 TEVGs offer the benefit of autologous material with superior anti-thrombogenic, anti-immunologic, and biomechanical properties compared with conventional prosthetic grafts. 7,9 TEVGs can be produced using a sheet-based technology with autologous skin fibroblasts 2,10 or by seeding primary smooth muscle cells (SMCs), 11 myofibroblasts, 12 or mesenchymal stem cells 13 on a biodegradable scaffold followed by a period of in vitro remodeling. Then, endothelial cells (ECs) or endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are seeded intraluminally to provide an anti-thrombogenic lining.…”