Vascular tissue engineering of small-diameter blood vessels: reviewing the electrospinning approach

Abstract

Vascular tissue engineering is a relevant research field aimed at elaborating and proposing innovative solutions to overcome the drawbacks related to the use of conventional blood vessel substitutes, especially referring to small-diameter grafts. For this aim, electrospinning can be regarded as a valuable technique to produce novel scaffolds with several functional characteristics that can be usefully tailored for the application discussed here. The reproduction of the natural extracellular matrix obtained by processing bioresorbable polymers, either functionalized or not, is driving the biomedical research towards technical solutions that can lead to an actual therapeutic improvement. In this context, this paper reviews those studies focused on the selection of suitable biomaterials for vascular applications, their microstructure, the cell response to polymeric fibres and the strategies considered so far to modify and therefore enhance the performance of final electrospun scaffolds.

Electrospun tecophilic/gelatin nanofibers with potential for small diameter blood vessel tissue engineering

“…Burst strength demonstrating the ability of the vascular graft to withstand pressure was estimated as 2633 ± 383 mm Hg which is higher than the acceptable value. This is because the clinical efficacy of vein grafts is approximately 2000 mm Hg, which is justified as an acceptable minimum criterion for burst strength …”

“…This is because the clinical efficacy of vein grafts is approximately 2000 mm Hg, which is justified as an acceptable minimum criterion for burst strength. 24,55 Sufficient amount of suture retention is also essential to successfully implant a vascular graft. Ideally, suture retention of vascular grafts should fall within the ranges reported for gold standards of vascular bypass including saphenous vein and internal mammary artery.…”

SDF‐1α peptide tethered polyester facilitates tissue repair by endogenous cell mobilization and recruitment

“…It has been previously reported that SDF-1a promotes neovascularization, cardiogenesis, and tissues repair by recruiting endogenous stem/progenitor cells and by influencing the development of monocytes toward a pro-tissue formation phenotype. [32][33][34] Biocompatibility assessment of vascular grafts showed enhanced cellularization and tissue regeneration in SDF-1 and SDF-1/heparin groups compared with the control group 4 weeks after implantation. This is attributed to the SDF-1a, which can enhance endogenous cell mobilization.…”

Nanotechnologies in tissue engineering

“…Although vascular grafts composed of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) or polyethyleneterephthalate (Dacron) are already used in the replacement of large-or mediumdiameter vessels, these materials are not suitable for small-diameter vessels because of thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia [43,44] . According to Ercolani et al, the optimal small-diameter vascular graft should have mechanical strength, biocompatibility, an acceptable healing response, and ease of handling [45] . Electrospinning has become an effective technique for the production of small-diameter vascular grafts because these grafts mimic the natural extracellular matrix with a high surface area, high porosity, and small pores.…”