As the number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and peripheral vascular diseases rises,the constraints of autologous transplantation remain unavoidable.As a result,artificial vascular grafts must be d...As the number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and peripheral vascular diseases rises,the constraints of autologous transplantation remain unavoidable.As a result,artificial vascular grafts must be developed.Adhesion of proteins,platelets and bacteria on implants can result in stenosis,thrombus formation,and postoperative infection,which can be fatal for an implantation.Polyurethane,as a commonly used biomaterial,has been modified in various ways to deal with the adhesions of proteins,platelets,and bacteria and to stimulate endothelium adhesion.In this review,we briefly summarize the mechanisms behind adhesions,overview the current strategies of surface modifications of polyurethane biomaterials used in vascular grafts,and highlight the challenges that need to be addressed in future studies,aiming to gain a more profound understanding of how to develop artificial polyurethane vascular grafts with an enhanced implantation success rate and reduced side effect.展开更多
BACKGROUND Diagnosis of prosthetic vascular graft infection with[(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography(18F-FDG PET/CT)allows for early detection of functional changes associated wit...BACKGROUND Diagnosis of prosthetic vascular graft infection with[(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography(18F-FDG PET/CT)allows for early detection of functional changes associated with infection,based on increased glucose utilization by activated macrophages and granulocytes.Aseptic vascular grafts,like all foreign bodies,can stimulate an inflammatory response,which can present as increased activity on 18F-FDG PET/CT.Consequently,distinguishing aseptic inflammation from graft infection,though important,can be difficult.In the case of endovascular aneurysm repair(EVAR),a minimally invasive procedure involving the transfemoral insertion of an endoprosthetic stent graft,the normal postoperative appearance of these grafts on 18F-FDG PET/CT can vary over time,potentially confounding study interpretation.AIM To investigate the visual,semiquantitative,and temporal characteristics of aseptic vascular grafts in patients status post EVAR.METHODS In this observational retrospective cohort study,patients with history of EVAR who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for indications other than infection were identified retrospectively.All patients were asymptomatic for graft infection-no abdominal pain,fever of unknown origin,sepsis,or leukocytosis-at the time of imaging and for≥2 mo after each PET/CT.Imaging studies such as CT for each patient were also reviewed,and any patients with suspected or confirmed vascular graft infection were excluded.One hundred two scans performed on 43 patients(34 males;9 females;age=77±8 years at the time of the final PET/CT)were retrospectively reviewed.All 43 patients had an abdominal aortic(AA)vascular graft,40 patients had a right iliac(RI)limb graft,and 41 patients had a left iliac(LI)limb graft.Twentytwo patients had 1 PET/CT and 21 patients had from 2 to 9 PET/CTs.Grafts were imaged between 2 mo to 168 mo(about 14 years)post placement.Eight grafts were imaged within 6 mo of placement,including three that were imaged within three months of placement.The mean interval between graft placement and PET/CT for all 102 scans was 51±39 mo.PET/CT data was reconstructed with region-of-interest analysis of proximal,mid and distal portions of the grafts and background ascending aorta.Maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax)was recorded for each region.SUVmax-to-background uptake ratios(URs)were calculated.Visual assessment was performed using a 2-pattern grading scale:Diffuse(homogeneous uptake less than liver uptake)and focal(one or more areas of focal uptake in any part of the graft).Statistical analysis was performed.RESULTS In total,there were 306 AA grafts,285 LI grafts,282 RI grafts,and 306 ascending aorta background SUVmax measurements.For all 102 scans,mean SUVmax values for AA grafts were 2.8-3.0 along proximal,mid,and distal segments.Mean SUVmax values for LI grafts and RI grafts were 2.7-2.8.Mean SUVmax values for background were 2.5±0.5.Mean URs were 1.1-1.2.Visual analysis of the scans reflected results of quantitative analysis.On visual inspection,98%revealed diffuse,homogeneous 18F-FDG uptake less than liver.Graft URs and visual pattern categories were significantly associated for AA graft URs(F-ratio=21.5,P<0.001),LI graft URs(F-ratio=20.4,P<0.001),and RI graft URs(F-ratio=30.4,P<0.001).Thus,visual patterns of 18F-FDG uptake corresponded statistically significantly to semiquantitative URs.The age of grafts showing focal patterns was greater than grafts showing diffuse patterns,87±89 vs 50±37 mo,respectively(P=0.02).URs were significantly associated with graft age for AA grafts(r=0.19,P=0.001).URs were also significantly associated with graft age for LI grafts(r=0.25,P<0.0001),and RI grafts(r=0.31,P<0.001).Quartiles of similar numbers of graft(n=25-27)grouped by graft age indicated that URs were significantly higher for 4th quartile vs 2nd quartile URs(F-ratio=19.5,P<0.001).When evaluating URs,graft SUVmax values within 10%-20%of the ascending aorta SUVmax is evident in aseptic grafts,except for grafts in the oldest quartiles.In this study,grafts in the oldest quartiles(>7 years post EVAR)showed SUVmax up to 30%higher than the ascending aorta SUVmax.CONCLUSION Characteristics of an aseptic vascular stent graft in the aorta and iliac vessels on 18F-FDG PET/CT include graft SUVmax values within 10%-20%of the ascending aorta background SUVmax.The SUVmax of older aseptic grafts can be as much as 30%above background.The visual uptake pattern of diffuse,homogeneous uptake less than liver was seen in 98%of aseptic vascular grafts,making this pattern particularly reassuring for clinicians.展开更多
Objective: To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene plasmid carried by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular graft materials could transfect endothelial cells (ECs) and promote th...Objective: To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene plasmid carried by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular graft materials could transfect endothelial cells (ECs) and promote their growth. Methods: PTFE vascular graft materials carried with pCDI-hVEGF121, pCDI or pEGFP were incubated in Tris-buffer solution and the values of optical density of 260 nm at different time were plotted, then the DNA controlled release curve was made. ECs derived from human umbilical vein were seeded on the pCDI-hVEGF121/pCDI/pEGFP-PTFE materials or tissue culture plates, ECs numbers were counted and VEGF protein concentrations at different time were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay method. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in ECs on pEGFP-PTFE materials was examined with fluorescence mi- croscopy. Results: The controlled release curve showed that the gene released from PTFE materials was rapid within 8 h, then slowed down and that the gene released continuously even after 72 h. At 24, 72 and 120 h, ECs number and proliferation rate of pCDI-hVEGFI21-PTFE materials were higher than those ofpCDI or pEGFP-PTFE materials (P〈0.05). VEGF protein concentration of pCDI-hVEGF121-PTFE materials was higher than that of pC DI or pEGFP-PTFE materials at 6, 24, 72 and 120 h (P〈0.01). GFP expression in ECs on the pEGFP-PTFE materials could be detected by fluorescence microscopy. Conclusion: PTFE graft can be used as a carrier of VEGF gene plasmid, VEGF gene carried by PTFE can transfect ECs and promote ECs growth.展开更多
This study reviews the state of the art in structural design and the corresponding mechanical behaviours of composite vascular grafts. We critically analyse surface and matrix designs composed of layered, embedded, an...This study reviews the state of the art in structural design and the corresponding mechanical behaviours of composite vascular grafts. We critically analyse surface and matrix designs composed of layered, embedded, and hybrid structures along the radial and longitudinal directions;materials and manufacturing techniques, such as tissue engineering and the use of textiles or their combinations;and the corresponding mechanical behaviours of composite vascular grafts in terms of their physical–mechanical properties, especially their stress–strain relationships and elastic recovery. The role of computational studies is discussed with respect to optimizing the geometrics designs and the corresponding mechanical behaviours to satisfy specialized applications, such as those for the aorta and its subparts. Natural and synthetic endothelial materials yield improvements in the mechanical and biological compliance of composite graft surfaces with host arteries. Moreover,the diameter, wall thickness, stiffness, compliance, tensile strength, elasticity, and burst strength of the graft matrix are determined depending on the application and the patient. For composite vascular grafts, hybrid architectures are recommended featuring multiple layers, dimensions, and materials to achieve the desired optimal flexibility and function for complying with user-specific requirements. Rapidly emerging artificial intelligence and big data techniques for diagnostics and the threedimensional(3D) manufacturing of vascular grafts will likely yield highly compliant, subject-specific, long-lasting, and economical vascular grafts in the near-future.展开更多
The paper presents a detailed analysis of experimental data in order to characterize the elastic properties of arteries.Such analysis would provide a good basis for evaluation of biomimetic vascular grafts.Since the l...The paper presents a detailed analysis of experimental data in order to characterize the elastic properties of arteries.Such analysis would provide a good basis for evaluation of biomimetic vascular grafts.Since the latter needs to exhibit similar properties of native tissue,it is important to accurately characterize the biomimetic sample in a large range of applied stresses. The stress-strain properties vary according to the specific pathology(e.g.arteriosclerosis,aneurism)and the tissue graft must be chosen correctly.Two models are proposed in this paper on the stress-strain characteristics.An extension for frequency-domain analysis is provided for one of the models.The comparison between vascular grafts and native tissue for carotid and thoracic arteries in pigs are in good agreement with results from literature.The proposed experimental method offers suitable parameters for identifying models which characterize both elasticity and stiffness properties of the analyzed tissues(stress-strain).The proposed models show good performance in characterizing the intrinsic material properties.展开更多
BACKGROUND The management of vascular graft infections continues to be a significant challenge in a clinical situation.The aim of this report is to illustrate the novel vacuum sealing drainage(VSD)technique and rectus...BACKGROUND The management of vascular graft infections continues to be a significant challenge in a clinical situation.The aim of this report is to illustrate the novel vacuum sealing drainage(VSD)technique and rectus femoris muscle flap transposition for vascular graft infections,and to evaluate the prospective of future testing of this surgical procedure.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 32-year-old male patient,who presented a severe infected groin wound with biological vascular graft Acinetobacter baumannii infection resulting in extensive graft exposure.Using the VSD and muscle flap transposition,the groin wound and vascular graft infection were finally treated successfully.CONCLUSION Our case report highlights that VSD technique and rectus femoris muscle flap transposition could be considered in patients presenting with a severe infected groin wound with biological vascular graft Acinetobacter baumannii infection resulting in extensive graft exposure,especially in consideration of treatable conditions.展开更多
Conical vascular tubes are of strong demand owing to their formed shape and excellent characters to mimic human blood vessels. In this study,the automatic shuttle loom and computer aided design( CAD) system were custo...Conical vascular tubes are of strong demand owing to their formed shape and excellent characters to mimic human blood vessels. In this study,the automatic shuttle loom and computer aided design( CAD) system were customized to prepare a conical vascular graft. Meanwhile, the weaving principle of a conical vascular graft was identified in terms of the lift-drop front rest,and the geometrical relations were established among the cloth fell,front rest and back rest. Also,the change of weft density from the liftdrop motion of the front rest was analyzed,and a strategy was established to compensate the offset of weft density by changing the taken-up length. Afterwards,the proposed weaving principles were demonstrated by weaving a conical vascular graft on the customized shuttle loom.展开更多
The vascular graft with 4 mm diameter was prepared by casting one layer of polyurethane (PU) film onto the knitting tubular fabric as the reinforced support. The effects of different PU content and wall thickness on t...The vascular graft with 4 mm diameter was prepared by casting one layer of polyurethane (PU) film onto the knitting tubular fabric as the reinforced support. The effects of different PU content and wall thickness on the longitudinal mechanical properties of vascular graft were investigated. The breaking elongation, breaking force, initial modulus and breaking work were studied. The results showed that the longitudinal mechanical properties of vascular graft were enhanced as the content of polyurethane increased, which resulted from the combination of PU excellent elasticity and fabric preferable strength.展开更多
In this paper,a kind of composite microtube,which is made from superfine silk powder and polyurethane,reinforced by polyster and spandex tubular fabrics,was examined.The cross-section of composite microtubes were micr...In this paper,a kind of composite microtube,which is made from superfine silk powder and polyurethane,reinforced by polyster and spandex tubular fabrics,was examined.The cross-section of composite microtubes were microporous,and micropores were uniform distributed,the inner surface was relatively smooth.The results showed that the wall thickness of composite microtubes increased,which led to the strength,the breaking work and the initial modulus incresead;that the spandex content increased brought about the initial modulus and the breaking work decreased,but the breaking extension and the breaking load were firstly increased and then decreased;and all the mechanical properties decreased as the SFSP content increased.展开更多
A novel biological small-diameter vascular graft was evaluated in a canine model. 3 cm long segments with 4 mm I.D. were implanted end-to-end in the carotid position of 12 dogs for 6 months. Color Doppler sonography w...A novel biological small-diameter vascular graft was evaluated in a canine model. 3 cm long segments with 4 mm I.D. were implanted end-to-end in the carotid position of 12 dogs for 6 months. Color Doppler sonography was performed at the first week post-operation, and angiography was then administered to 9 grafts at 4th week, 12th week and 24th week respectively to monitor the graft pantency and blood flow characteristics. Vascular samples containing the grafts were collected at 1st week, 8th week, 12th week and 24th week after implantation. Morphological changes of the grafts were observed by optical and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies and compared with that of the original prosthesis and the normal host vessel. All grafts were patent throughout the experiment except one graft. Histopathology and SEM demonstrated both a nearly complete inner capsule of varied thickness lining the graft luminal surface and connective tissue adventitia formation at one-week post-operation. The neointima became confluent at 8 weeks and then compact but had no signs of hyperplasia up to 12 weeks; meanwhile on the neointimal surface newly grown endothelial-like cells were migrating from the stoma to the middle portion. The grafts also illustrated endothelialization in many “islands” in the mid-segment luminal surface of the grafts. In addition, the closer distance the cells towards the stoma were, the more morphological similarity the cells with the normal endothelial were. Taken together, the biological vascular graft remained patent for 24 weeks as a carotid prosthesis, characterized by the early and complete neointima formation plus endothelialization starting before 12 weeks post grafting. Therefore, the graft seems suitable for reconstruction of vascular lesions in dogs. Further studies may be carried out to extend the graft application for the clinical use.展开更多
In this study,a series of poly(butylene succinate)(PBSU)/gelatin composites were prepared by electrospinning.The morphology,physicochemical analysis,biomechanical properties,biocompatibility,and biodegradability of th...In this study,a series of poly(butylene succinate)(PBSU)/gelatin composites were prepared by electrospinning.The morphology,physicochemical analysis,biomechanical properties,biocompatibility,and biodegradability of the materials were evaluated.The results showed that the ultimate tensile stress of the vascular PBSU/gelatin grafts at(95/5),(90/10),(85/15),and(80/20)was(4.17±0.54)MPa,(3.81±0.44)MPa,2.94±0.69 MPa and 2.11±0.72 MPa respectively,and the burst pressure was(282.7±22.3)kPa,(295.3±3.9)kPa,(306.8±13.9)kPa and(307.6±9.0)kPa respectively,which met the requirements of tissue-engineered blood vessels.Furthermore,the addition of gelatin improved the hydrophilicity and degradation properties of PBSU,thus enhancing cell adhesion and promoting the inward growth of vascular smooth muscle cells.In summary,the research in this paper provides a useful reference for the preparation and optimization of vascular scaffolds.展开更多
For the surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease(CVD),there is a clear and unmet need in developing small-diameter(diameter<6 mm)vascular grafts.In our previous work,sulfated silk fibroin(SF)was successfully fa...For the surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease(CVD),there is a clear and unmet need in developing small-diameter(diameter<6 mm)vascular grafts.In our previous work,sulfated silk fibroin(SF)was successfully fabricated as a potential candidate for preparing vascular grafts due to the great cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility.However,vascular graft with single layer is difficult to adapt to the complex internal environment.In this work,polycaprolactone(PCL)and sulfated SF were used to fabricate bilayer vascular graft(BLVG)to mimic the structure of natural blood vessels.To enhance the biological activity of BLVG,nicorandil(NIC),an FDA-approved drug with multi-bioactivity,was loaded in the BLVG to fabricate NIC-loaded BLVG.The morphology,chemical composition and mechanical properties of NIC-loaded BLVG were assessed.The results showed that the bilayer structure of NIC-loaded BLVG endowed the graft with a biphasic drug release behavior.The in vitro studies indicated that NIC-loaded BLVG could significantly increase the proliferation,migration and antioxidation capability of endothelial cells(ECs).Moreover,we found that the potential biological mechanism was the activation of PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling pathway.Overall,the results effectively demonstrated that NIC-loaded BLVG had a promising in vitro performance as a functional small-diameter vascular graft.展开更多
Natural silk from Bombyx mori has been used as medical sutures for several decades,and regenerated silk fibroin( RSF)based biomaterials have been increasingly studied in the past thirty years. However,vascular graft d...Natural silk from Bombyx mori has been used as medical sutures for several decades,and regenerated silk fibroin( RSF)based biomaterials have been increasingly studied in the past thirty years. However,vascular graft derived from silk fibroin fiber has been explored in recent several years with development of textile science and engineering. Moreover,endothelialization of vascular graft has been seen as an ideal strategy for preventing thrombosis and getting higher patency in a long term. Therefore,in the present work silk fibroin fiber vascular graft( SF) was chemically grafted with bioactive molecules such as heparin and RSF to improve the cytocompatibility. 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane(APTES),1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiie hydrochlide( EDC · HCl),and N-hydroxysuccinimide( NHS) have been employed as coupling agent and crosslinking agents,respectively. Microscopy and ATRFTIR were used to characterize the surface changes and the structure of the grafts after treatment,respectively. Cell culture in vitro and MTT assay were conducted to determine the improvement of cell affinity to the graft. Furthermore,mechanical properties of the grafts before and after treatment were compared. The results showed that the chemical grafting was an effective method for improving the cytocompatibility of SF without significant loss of mechanical properties.展开更多
he potential benefits of endothelial cell seeding depend not only on effective cell attachment, but also on the ability of the cells to resist the shear stresses of blood flow. The shear stressresistance of cultured a...he potential benefits of endothelial cell seeding depend not only on effective cell attachment, but also on the ability of the cells to resist the shear stresses of blood flow. The shear stressresistance of cultured adult human endothelial cells was investigated on 6mm polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts (made in China). Endothelial cells were sodded onto pretreated vascular grafts at a high density. Grafts were then cultivated for 9 days to enable the maturation of thecytoskeleton, before they were exposed to pulsatile flow simulating the flow patterns and the wallshear forces of the small srtery. After 1 hour of per fusion,a cell loss of 11% in grafts pretreatedwith 20μ g/ ml fibronectin and of 12% in grafts pretreated with 5μ g /ml fibronectin coated human platelet- poor- plasma (p>0. 50 n = 10). Therefore we conclude that the endothelial celllining on vascular grafts pretreated with suitable substrates can form a shear stress-resistant endothelial cell monolayer on polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts.展开更多
e assessed the capcitity of lined endothelial cell (EC) monolayers on small-caliber prosthetic grafts to prevent early platelet deposition in vitro. Cultured adult human ECs were attached toexpanded polytetrafluoroeth...e assessed the capcitity of lined endothelial cell (EC) monolayers on small-caliber prosthetic grafts to prevent early platelet deposition in vitro. Cultured adult human ECs were attached toexpanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (6mm inner diameter, 6cm length; made in China) precoated with platelet-poor-plasma and human fibronectin,cultured for 9 days,and then perfused invitro for 60 minutes at 50 ml/min with human blood containing 125I-labeled platelets. Morphologyof EC lining was examined by SEM and TEM Numbers of deposited platelets were evaluated bygamma counting. EC lining on the prosthetic grafts performed con fluent EC monolayers. Plateletdeposition on 20 EC lined grafts was markedly reduced (0. 620. 13× 105 platelcts/cm2 graft) cornpared wtyh 20 untreated control grafts (7. 10± 1. 05 × 105 platelets/cm2graft,p<0. 01 ). Thus,thisaPProach to lining graft in vitro with adult human ECs may be useful in decreasing early thrombusformation on small-caliber vascular grafts.展开更多
Synthetic vascular grafts suitable for small-diameter arteries(<6 mm) are in great need.However,there are still no commercially available small-diameter vascular grafts(SDVGs) in clinical practice due to thrombosis...Synthetic vascular grafts suitable for small-diameter arteries(<6 mm) are in great need.However,there are still no commercially available small-diameter vascular grafts(SDVGs) in clinical practice due to thrombosis and stenosis after in vivo implantation.When designing SDVGs,many studies emphasized reendothelization but ignored the importance of reconstruction of the smooth muscle layer(SML).To facilitate rapid SML regeneration,a high-resolution 3D printing method was used to create a novel bilayer SDVG with structures and mechanical properties mimicking natural arteries.Bioinspired by the collagen alignment of SML,the inner layer of the grafts had larger pore sizes and high porosity to accelerate the infiltration of cells and their circumferential alignment,which could facilitate SML reconstruction for compliance restoration and spontaneous endothelialization.The outer layer was designed to induce fibroblast recruitment by low porosity and minor pore size and provide SDVG with sufficient mechanical strength.One month after implantation,the arteries regenerated by 3D-printed grafts exhibited better pulsatility than electrospun grafts,with a compliance(8.9%) approaching that of natural arteries(11.36%) and significantly higher than that of electrospun ones(1.9%).The 3D-printed vascular demonstrated a three-layer structure more closely resembling natural arteries while electrospun grafts showed incomplete endothelium and immature SML.Our study shows the importance of SML reconstruction during vascular graft regeneration and provides an effective strategy to reconstruct blood vessels through 3D-printed structures rapidly.展开更多
Nitric oxide(NO)and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S)gasotransmitters exhibit potential therapeutic effects in the car-diovascular system.Herein,biomimicking multilayer structures of biological blood vessels,bilayer smalldiame...Nitric oxide(NO)and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S)gasotransmitters exhibit potential therapeutic effects in the car-diovascular system.Herein,biomimicking multilayer structures of biological blood vessels,bilayer smalldiameter vascular grafts(SDVGs)with on-demand NO and H_(2)S release capabilities,were designed and fabri-cated.The keratin-based H_(2)S donor(KTC)with good biocompatibility and high stability was first synthesized and then electrospun with poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone)(PLCL)to be used as the outer layer of grafts.The elec-trospun poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL)mats were aminolyzed and further chelated with copper(II)ions to construct glutathione peroxidase(GPx)-like structural surfaces for the catalytic generation of NO,which acted as the inner layer of grafts.The on-demand release of NO and H_(2)S selectively and synergistically promoted the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)while inhibiting the proliferation and migration of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells(HUASMCs).Dual releases of NO and H_(2)S gaso-transmitters could enhance their respective production,resulting in enhanced promotion of HUVECs and inhi-bition of HUASMCs owing to their combined actions.In addition,the bilayer grafts were conducive to forming endothelial cell layers under flow shear stress.In rat abdominal aorta replacement models,the grafts remained patency for 6 months.These grafts were capable of facilitating rapid endothelialization and alleviating neo-intimal hyperplasia without obvious injury,inflammation,or thrombosis.More importantly,the grafts were expected to avoid calcification with the degradation of the grafts.Taken together,these bilayer grafts will be greatly promising candidates for SDVGs with rapid endothelialization and anti-calcification properties.展开更多
Thrombogenesis remains the primary failure of synthetic vascular grafts.Endothelial coverage is crucial to provide an antithrombogenic surface.However,most synthetic materials do not support cell adhesion,and transana...Thrombogenesis remains the primary failure of synthetic vascular grafts.Endothelial coverage is crucial to provide an antithrombogenic surface.However,most synthetic materials do not support cell adhesion,and transanastomotic endothelial migration is limited.Here,a surface modification strategy using fucoidan and topography was developed to enable fast in situ endothelialization of polyvinyl alcohol,which is not endothelial cell-adhesive.Among three different immobilization approaches compared,conjugation of aminated-fucoidan promoted endothelial monolayer formation while minimizing thrombogenicity in both in vitro platelet rich plasma testing and ex vivo non-human primate shunt assay.Screening of six topographical patterns showed that 2μm gratings increased endothelial cell migration without inducing inflammation responses of endothelial cells.Mechanistic studies demonstrated that fucoidan could attract fibronectin,enabling integrin binding and focal adhesion formation and activating focal adhesion kinase(FAK)signaling,and 2μm gratings further enhanced FAK-mediated cell migration.In a clinically relevant rabbit carotid artery end-to-side anastomosis model,60%in situ endothelialization was observed throughout the entire lumen of 1.7 mm inner diameter modified grafts,compared to 0%of unmodified graft,and the four-week graft patency also increased.This work presents a promising strategy to stimulate in situ endothelialization on synthetic materials for improving long-term performance.展开更多
Conventional synthetic vascular grafts are associated with significant failure rates due to their mismatched mechanical properties with the native vessel and poor regenerative potential.Though different tissue enginee...Conventional synthetic vascular grafts are associated with significant failure rates due to their mismatched mechanical properties with the native vessel and poor regenerative potential.Though different tissue engineering approaches have been used to improve the biocompatibility of synthetic vascular grafts,it is still crucial to develop a new generation of synthetic grafts that can match the dynamics of native vessel and direct the host response to achieve robust vascular regeneration.The size of pores within implanted biomaterials has shown significant effects on macrophage polarization,which has been further confirmed as necessary for efficient vascular formation and remodeling.Here,we developed biodegradable,autoclavable synthetic vascular grafts from a new polyurethane elastomer and tailored the grafts’interconnected pore sizes to promote macrophage populations with a pro-regenerative phenotype and improve vascular regeneration and patency rate.The synthetic vascular grafts showed similar mechanical properties to native blood vessels,encouraged macrophage populations with varying M2 to M1 phenotypic expression,and maintained patency and vascular regeneration in a one-month rat carotid interposition model and in a four-month rat aortic interposition model.This innovative bioactive synthetic vascular graft holds promise to treat clinical vascular diseases.展开更多
基金supported by the National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding:2022-PUMCH-A-191.
文摘As the number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases and peripheral vascular diseases rises,the constraints of autologous transplantation remain unavoidable.As a result,artificial vascular grafts must be developed.Adhesion of proteins,platelets and bacteria on implants can result in stenosis,thrombus formation,and postoperative infection,which can be fatal for an implantation.Polyurethane,as a commonly used biomaterial,has been modified in various ways to deal with the adhesions of proteins,platelets,and bacteria and to stimulate endothelium adhesion.In this review,we briefly summarize the mechanisms behind adhesions,overview the current strategies of surface modifications of polyurethane biomaterials used in vascular grafts,and highlight the challenges that need to be addressed in future studies,aiming to gain a more profound understanding of how to develop artificial polyurethane vascular grafts with an enhanced implantation success rate and reduced side effect.
文摘BACKGROUND Diagnosis of prosthetic vascular graft infection with[(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography(18F-FDG PET/CT)allows for early detection of functional changes associated with infection,based on increased glucose utilization by activated macrophages and granulocytes.Aseptic vascular grafts,like all foreign bodies,can stimulate an inflammatory response,which can present as increased activity on 18F-FDG PET/CT.Consequently,distinguishing aseptic inflammation from graft infection,though important,can be difficult.In the case of endovascular aneurysm repair(EVAR),a minimally invasive procedure involving the transfemoral insertion of an endoprosthetic stent graft,the normal postoperative appearance of these grafts on 18F-FDG PET/CT can vary over time,potentially confounding study interpretation.AIM To investigate the visual,semiquantitative,and temporal characteristics of aseptic vascular grafts in patients status post EVAR.METHODS In this observational retrospective cohort study,patients with history of EVAR who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for indications other than infection were identified retrospectively.All patients were asymptomatic for graft infection-no abdominal pain,fever of unknown origin,sepsis,or leukocytosis-at the time of imaging and for≥2 mo after each PET/CT.Imaging studies such as CT for each patient were also reviewed,and any patients with suspected or confirmed vascular graft infection were excluded.One hundred two scans performed on 43 patients(34 males;9 females;age=77±8 years at the time of the final PET/CT)were retrospectively reviewed.All 43 patients had an abdominal aortic(AA)vascular graft,40 patients had a right iliac(RI)limb graft,and 41 patients had a left iliac(LI)limb graft.Twentytwo patients had 1 PET/CT and 21 patients had from 2 to 9 PET/CTs.Grafts were imaged between 2 mo to 168 mo(about 14 years)post placement.Eight grafts were imaged within 6 mo of placement,including three that were imaged within three months of placement.The mean interval between graft placement and PET/CT for all 102 scans was 51±39 mo.PET/CT data was reconstructed with region-of-interest analysis of proximal,mid and distal portions of the grafts and background ascending aorta.Maximum standardized uptake value(SUVmax)was recorded for each region.SUVmax-to-background uptake ratios(URs)were calculated.Visual assessment was performed using a 2-pattern grading scale:Diffuse(homogeneous uptake less than liver uptake)and focal(one or more areas of focal uptake in any part of the graft).Statistical analysis was performed.RESULTS In total,there were 306 AA grafts,285 LI grafts,282 RI grafts,and 306 ascending aorta background SUVmax measurements.For all 102 scans,mean SUVmax values for AA grafts were 2.8-3.0 along proximal,mid,and distal segments.Mean SUVmax values for LI grafts and RI grafts were 2.7-2.8.Mean SUVmax values for background were 2.5±0.5.Mean URs were 1.1-1.2.Visual analysis of the scans reflected results of quantitative analysis.On visual inspection,98%revealed diffuse,homogeneous 18F-FDG uptake less than liver.Graft URs and visual pattern categories were significantly associated for AA graft URs(F-ratio=21.5,P<0.001),LI graft URs(F-ratio=20.4,P<0.001),and RI graft URs(F-ratio=30.4,P<0.001).Thus,visual patterns of 18F-FDG uptake corresponded statistically significantly to semiquantitative URs.The age of grafts showing focal patterns was greater than grafts showing diffuse patterns,87±89 vs 50±37 mo,respectively(P=0.02).URs were significantly associated with graft age for AA grafts(r=0.19,P=0.001).URs were also significantly associated with graft age for LI grafts(r=0.25,P<0.0001),and RI grafts(r=0.31,P<0.001).Quartiles of similar numbers of graft(n=25-27)grouped by graft age indicated that URs were significantly higher for 4th quartile vs 2nd quartile URs(F-ratio=19.5,P<0.001).When evaluating URs,graft SUVmax values within 10%-20%of the ascending aorta SUVmax is evident in aseptic grafts,except for grafts in the oldest quartiles.In this study,grafts in the oldest quartiles(>7 years post EVAR)showed SUVmax up to 30%higher than the ascending aorta SUVmax.CONCLUSION Characteristics of an aseptic vascular stent graft in the aorta and iliac vessels on 18F-FDG PET/CT include graft SUVmax values within 10%-20%of the ascending aorta background SUVmax.The SUVmax of older aseptic grafts can be as much as 30%above background.The visual uptake pattern of diffuse,homogeneous uptake less than liver was seen in 98%of aseptic vascular grafts,making this pattern particularly reassuring for clinicians.
基金Project supported by the Science and Technology Research Foun-dation of Zhejiang Province, China (No. 991110052) and the Re-search and Development Funds of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
文摘Objective: To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene plasmid carried by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular graft materials could transfect endothelial cells (ECs) and promote their growth. Methods: PTFE vascular graft materials carried with pCDI-hVEGF121, pCDI or pEGFP were incubated in Tris-buffer solution and the values of optical density of 260 nm at different time were plotted, then the DNA controlled release curve was made. ECs derived from human umbilical vein were seeded on the pCDI-hVEGF121/pCDI/pEGFP-PTFE materials or tissue culture plates, ECs numbers were counted and VEGF protein concentrations at different time were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay method. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in ECs on pEGFP-PTFE materials was examined with fluorescence mi- croscopy. Results: The controlled release curve showed that the gene released from PTFE materials was rapid within 8 h, then slowed down and that the gene released continuously even after 72 h. At 24, 72 and 120 h, ECs number and proliferation rate of pCDI-hVEGFI21-PTFE materials were higher than those ofpCDI or pEGFP-PTFE materials (P〈0.05). VEGF protein concentration of pCDI-hVEGF121-PTFE materials was higher than that of pC DI or pEGFP-PTFE materials at 6, 24, 72 and 120 h (P〈0.01). GFP expression in ECs on the pEGFP-PTFE materials could be detected by fluorescence microscopy. Conclusion: PTFE graft can be used as a carrier of VEGF gene plasmid, VEGF gene carried by PTFE can transfect ECs and promote ECs growth.
基金the Innovation and Technology Fund-The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (ITF-HKRITA, PRP/059/19TI)the Department General Research Fund, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (G-UAHB) for supporting this study。
文摘This study reviews the state of the art in structural design and the corresponding mechanical behaviours of composite vascular grafts. We critically analyse surface and matrix designs composed of layered, embedded, and hybrid structures along the radial and longitudinal directions;materials and manufacturing techniques, such as tissue engineering and the use of textiles or their combinations;and the corresponding mechanical behaviours of composite vascular grafts in terms of their physical–mechanical properties, especially their stress–strain relationships and elastic recovery. The role of computational studies is discussed with respect to optimizing the geometrics designs and the corresponding mechanical behaviours to satisfy specialized applications, such as those for the aorta and its subparts. Natural and synthetic endothelial materials yield improvements in the mechanical and biological compliance of composite graft surfaces with host arteries. Moreover,the diameter, wall thickness, stiffness, compliance, tensile strength, elasticity, and burst strength of the graft matrix are determined depending on the application and the patient. For composite vascular grafts, hybrid architectures are recommended featuring multiple layers, dimensions, and materials to achieve the desired optimal flexibility and function for complying with user-specific requirements. Rapidly emerging artificial intelligence and big data techniques for diagnostics and the threedimensional(3D) manufacturing of vascular grafts will likely yield highly compliant, subject-specific, long-lasting, and economical vascular grafts in the near-future.
文摘The paper presents a detailed analysis of experimental data in order to characterize the elastic properties of arteries.Such analysis would provide a good basis for evaluation of biomimetic vascular grafts.Since the latter needs to exhibit similar properties of native tissue,it is important to accurately characterize the biomimetic sample in a large range of applied stresses. The stress-strain properties vary according to the specific pathology(e.g.arteriosclerosis,aneurism)and the tissue graft must be chosen correctly.Two models are proposed in this paper on the stress-strain characteristics.An extension for frequency-domain analysis is provided for one of the models.The comparison between vascular grafts and native tissue for carotid and thoracic arteries in pigs are in good agreement with results from literature.The proposed experimental method offers suitable parameters for identifying models which characterize both elasticity and stiffness properties of the analyzed tissues(stress-strain).The proposed models show good performance in characterizing the intrinsic material properties.
文摘BACKGROUND The management of vascular graft infections continues to be a significant challenge in a clinical situation.The aim of this report is to illustrate the novel vacuum sealing drainage(VSD)technique and rectus femoris muscle flap transposition for vascular graft infections,and to evaluate the prospective of future testing of this surgical procedure.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 32-year-old male patient,who presented a severe infected groin wound with biological vascular graft Acinetobacter baumannii infection resulting in extensive graft exposure.Using the VSD and muscle flap transposition,the groin wound and vascular graft infection were finally treated successfully.CONCLUSION Our case report highlights that VSD technique and rectus femoris muscle flap transposition could be considered in patients presenting with a severe infected groin wound with biological vascular graft Acinetobacter baumannii infection resulting in extensive graft exposure,especially in consideration of treatable conditions.
基金Biomedical Textile Materials Science and Technology(111 Project),China(No.B07024)
文摘Conical vascular tubes are of strong demand owing to their formed shape and excellent characters to mimic human blood vessels. In this study,the automatic shuttle loom and computer aided design( CAD) system were customized to prepare a conical vascular graft. Meanwhile, the weaving principle of a conical vascular graft was identified in terms of the lift-drop front rest,and the geometrical relations were established among the cloth fell,front rest and back rest. Also,the change of weft density from the liftdrop motion of the front rest was analyzed,and a strategy was established to compensate the offset of weft density by changing the taken-up length. Afterwards,the proposed weaving principles were demonstrated by weaving a conical vascular graft on the customized shuttle loom.
基金Supported by Education Depart ment of Hubei Province,China (No. Z200717001)
文摘The vascular graft with 4 mm diameter was prepared by casting one layer of polyurethane (PU) film onto the knitting tubular fabric as the reinforced support. The effects of different PU content and wall thickness on the longitudinal mechanical properties of vascular graft were investigated. The breaking elongation, breaking force, initial modulus and breaking work were studied. The results showed that the longitudinal mechanical properties of vascular graft were enhanced as the content of polyurethane increased, which resulted from the combination of PU excellent elasticity and fabric preferable strength.
基金State Natural Sciences Fundgrant number:50873079+1 种基金National Major Foudamental Research Program of Chinagrant number:2009CB526402
文摘In this paper,a kind of composite microtube,which is made from superfine silk powder and polyurethane,reinforced by polyster and spandex tubular fabrics,was examined.The cross-section of composite microtubes were microporous,and micropores were uniform distributed,the inner surface was relatively smooth.The results showed that the wall thickness of composite microtubes increased,which led to the strength,the breaking work and the initial modulus incresead;that the spandex content increased brought about the initial modulus and the breaking work decreased,but the breaking extension and the breaking load were firstly increased and then decreased;and all the mechanical properties decreased as the SFSP content increased.
基金Hi-tech Research and Development Program of ChinaGrant number:863 program#2006AA03Z441+1 种基金Guangdong Province Scienceand Technology Supporting ProgramGrant number:Project#2006B35830001
文摘A novel biological small-diameter vascular graft was evaluated in a canine model. 3 cm long segments with 4 mm I.D. were implanted end-to-end in the carotid position of 12 dogs for 6 months. Color Doppler sonography was performed at the first week post-operation, and angiography was then administered to 9 grafts at 4th week, 12th week and 24th week respectively to monitor the graft pantency and blood flow characteristics. Vascular samples containing the grafts were collected at 1st week, 8th week, 12th week and 24th week after implantation. Morphological changes of the grafts were observed by optical and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies and compared with that of the original prosthesis and the normal host vessel. All grafts were patent throughout the experiment except one graft. Histopathology and SEM demonstrated both a nearly complete inner capsule of varied thickness lining the graft luminal surface and connective tissue adventitia formation at one-week post-operation. The neointima became confluent at 8 weeks and then compact but had no signs of hyperplasia up to 12 weeks; meanwhile on the neointimal surface newly grown endothelial-like cells were migrating from the stoma to the middle portion. The grafts also illustrated endothelialization in many “islands” in the mid-segment luminal surface of the grafts. In addition, the closer distance the cells towards the stoma were, the more morphological similarity the cells with the normal endothelial were. Taken together, the biological vascular graft remained patent for 24 weeks as a carotid prosthesis, characterized by the early and complete neointima formation plus endothelialization starting before 12 weeks post grafting. Therefore, the graft seems suitable for reconstruction of vascular lesions in dogs. Further studies may be carried out to extend the graft application for the clinical use.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31870966,81800931,81901062)National Key Research Development Program of China(2020YFA0803701,2017YFC1103504)Tianjin Science Foundation(20YFZCSY01020).
文摘In this study,a series of poly(butylene succinate)(PBSU)/gelatin composites were prepared by electrospinning.The morphology,physicochemical analysis,biomechanical properties,biocompatibility,and biodegradability of the materials were evaluated.The results showed that the ultimate tensile stress of the vascular PBSU/gelatin grafts at(95/5),(90/10),(85/15),and(80/20)was(4.17±0.54)MPa,(3.81±0.44)MPa,2.94±0.69 MPa and 2.11±0.72 MPa respectively,and the burst pressure was(282.7±22.3)kPa,(295.3±3.9)kPa,(306.8±13.9)kPa and(307.6±9.0)kPa respectively,which met the requirements of tissue-engineered blood vessels.Furthermore,the addition of gelatin improved the hydrophilicity and degradation properties of PBSU,thus enhancing cell adhesion and promoting the inward growth of vascular smooth muscle cells.In summary,the research in this paper provides a useful reference for the preparation and optimization of vascular scaffolds.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31771058,32071359,11421202,61227902 and 11120101001)NationalKey Technology R&D Program(2016YFC1100704,2016YFC1101101)+3 种基金International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology and Medical Engineering from Ministry of Science and Technology of China111 Project(B13003)Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China(20131102130004)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.
文摘For the surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease(CVD),there is a clear and unmet need in developing small-diameter(diameter<6 mm)vascular grafts.In our previous work,sulfated silk fibroin(SF)was successfully fabricated as a potential candidate for preparing vascular grafts due to the great cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility.However,vascular graft with single layer is difficult to adapt to the complex internal environment.In this work,polycaprolactone(PCL)and sulfated SF were used to fabricate bilayer vascular graft(BLVG)to mimic the structure of natural blood vessels.To enhance the biological activity of BLVG,nicorandil(NIC),an FDA-approved drug with multi-bioactivity,was loaded in the BLVG to fabricate NIC-loaded BLVG.The morphology,chemical composition and mechanical properties of NIC-loaded BLVG were assessed.The results showed that the bilayer structure of NIC-loaded BLVG endowed the graft with a biphasic drug release behavior.The in vitro studies indicated that NIC-loaded BLVG could significantly increase the proliferation,migration and antioxidation capability of endothelial cells(ECs).Moreover,we found that the potential biological mechanism was the activation of PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling pathway.Overall,the results effectively demonstrated that NIC-loaded BLVG had a promising in vitro performance as a functional small-diameter vascular graft.
基金National Natural Science Foundations of China(No.51003014,No.31100682)"111 Project" Biomedical Textile Materials Science and Technology of China(No.B07024)
文摘Natural silk from Bombyx mori has been used as medical sutures for several decades,and regenerated silk fibroin( RSF)based biomaterials have been increasingly studied in the past thirty years. However,vascular graft derived from silk fibroin fiber has been explored in recent several years with development of textile science and engineering. Moreover,endothelialization of vascular graft has been seen as an ideal strategy for preventing thrombosis and getting higher patency in a long term. Therefore,in the present work silk fibroin fiber vascular graft( SF) was chemically grafted with bioactive molecules such as heparin and RSF to improve the cytocompatibility. 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane(APTES),1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiie hydrochlide( EDC · HCl),and N-hydroxysuccinimide( NHS) have been employed as coupling agent and crosslinking agents,respectively. Microscopy and ATRFTIR were used to characterize the surface changes and the structure of the grafts after treatment,respectively. Cell culture in vitro and MTT assay were conducted to determine the improvement of cell affinity to the graft. Furthermore,mechanical properties of the grafts before and after treatment were compared. The results showed that the chemical grafting was an effective method for improving the cytocompatibility of SF without significant loss of mechanical properties.
文摘he potential benefits of endothelial cell seeding depend not only on effective cell attachment, but also on the ability of the cells to resist the shear stresses of blood flow. The shear stressresistance of cultured adult human endothelial cells was investigated on 6mm polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts (made in China). Endothelial cells were sodded onto pretreated vascular grafts at a high density. Grafts were then cultivated for 9 days to enable the maturation of thecytoskeleton, before they were exposed to pulsatile flow simulating the flow patterns and the wallshear forces of the small srtery. After 1 hour of per fusion,a cell loss of 11% in grafts pretreatedwith 20μ g/ ml fibronectin and of 12% in grafts pretreated with 5μ g /ml fibronectin coated human platelet- poor- plasma (p>0. 50 n = 10). Therefore we conclude that the endothelial celllining on vascular grafts pretreated with suitable substrates can form a shear stress-resistant endothelial cell monolayer on polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts.
文摘e assessed the capcitity of lined endothelial cell (EC) monolayers on small-caliber prosthetic grafts to prevent early platelet deposition in vitro. Cultured adult human ECs were attached toexpanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (6mm inner diameter, 6cm length; made in China) precoated with platelet-poor-plasma and human fibronectin,cultured for 9 days,and then perfused invitro for 60 minutes at 50 ml/min with human blood containing 125I-labeled platelets. Morphologyof EC lining was examined by SEM and TEM Numbers of deposited platelets were evaluated bygamma counting. EC lining on the prosthetic grafts performed con fluent EC monolayers. Plateletdeposition on 20 EC lined grafts was markedly reduced (0. 620. 13× 105 platelcts/cm2 graft) cornpared wtyh 20 untreated control grafts (7. 10± 1. 05 × 105 platelets/cm2graft,p<0. 01 ). Thus,thisaPProach to lining graft in vitro with adult human ECs may be useful in decreasing early thrombusformation on small-caliber vascular grafts.
基金sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.52235007, 52325504, T2121004)Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.LQ23H090012, LQ22H180001the Science and Technology of Medicine and Health program of Zhejiang Province (No.2023RC028)。
文摘Synthetic vascular grafts suitable for small-diameter arteries(<6 mm) are in great need.However,there are still no commercially available small-diameter vascular grafts(SDVGs) in clinical practice due to thrombosis and stenosis after in vivo implantation.When designing SDVGs,many studies emphasized reendothelization but ignored the importance of reconstruction of the smooth muscle layer(SML).To facilitate rapid SML regeneration,a high-resolution 3D printing method was used to create a novel bilayer SDVG with structures and mechanical properties mimicking natural arteries.Bioinspired by the collagen alignment of SML,the inner layer of the grafts had larger pore sizes and high porosity to accelerate the infiltration of cells and their circumferential alignment,which could facilitate SML reconstruction for compliance restoration and spontaneous endothelialization.The outer layer was designed to induce fibroblast recruitment by low porosity and minor pore size and provide SDVG with sufficient mechanical strength.One month after implantation,the arteries regenerated by 3D-printed grafts exhibited better pulsatility than electrospun grafts,with a compliance(8.9%) approaching that of natural arteries(11.36%) and significantly higher than that of electrospun ones(1.9%).The 3D-printed vascular demonstrated a three-layer structure more closely resembling natural arteries while electrospun grafts showed incomplete endothelium and immature SML.Our study shows the importance of SML reconstruction during vascular graft regeneration and provides an effective strategy to reconstruct blood vessels through 3D-printed structures rapidly.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Fund of China(81873923)Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(19KJA310001 and PAPD)Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials.
文摘Nitric oxide(NO)and hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S)gasotransmitters exhibit potential therapeutic effects in the car-diovascular system.Herein,biomimicking multilayer structures of biological blood vessels,bilayer smalldiameter vascular grafts(SDVGs)with on-demand NO and H_(2)S release capabilities,were designed and fabri-cated.The keratin-based H_(2)S donor(KTC)with good biocompatibility and high stability was first synthesized and then electrospun with poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone)(PLCL)to be used as the outer layer of grafts.The elec-trospun poly(ε-caprolactone)(PCL)mats were aminolyzed and further chelated with copper(II)ions to construct glutathione peroxidase(GPx)-like structural surfaces for the catalytic generation of NO,which acted as the inner layer of grafts.The on-demand release of NO and H_(2)S selectively and synergistically promoted the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)while inhibiting the proliferation and migration of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells(HUASMCs).Dual releases of NO and H_(2)S gaso-transmitters could enhance their respective production,resulting in enhanced promotion of HUVECs and inhi-bition of HUASMCs owing to their combined actions.In addition,the bilayer grafts were conducive to forming endothelial cell layers under flow shear stress.In rat abdominal aorta replacement models,the grafts remained patency for 6 months.These grafts were capable of facilitating rapid endothelialization and alleviating neo-intimal hyperplasia without obvious injury,inflammation,or thrombosis.More importantly,the grafts were expected to avoid calcification with the degradation of the grafts.Taken together,these bilayer grafts will be greatly promising candidates for SDVGs with rapid endothelialization and anti-calcification properties.
基金This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grants[NIH R01HL130274 and R01HL144113]NSERC-CREATE Training in Global Biomedical Technology Research and Innovation at the University of Waterloo[CREATE-509950-2018]+2 种基金Canada Foundation for Innovation(CFI35573)NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Fund(RTI-2018-00220)the Oregon National Primate Research Center NIH grant award[P51OD011092].
文摘Thrombogenesis remains the primary failure of synthetic vascular grafts.Endothelial coverage is crucial to provide an antithrombogenic surface.However,most synthetic materials do not support cell adhesion,and transanastomotic endothelial migration is limited.Here,a surface modification strategy using fucoidan and topography was developed to enable fast in situ endothelialization of polyvinyl alcohol,which is not endothelial cell-adhesive.Among three different immobilization approaches compared,conjugation of aminated-fucoidan promoted endothelial monolayer formation while minimizing thrombogenicity in both in vitro platelet rich plasma testing and ex vivo non-human primate shunt assay.Screening of six topographical patterns showed that 2μm gratings increased endothelial cell migration without inducing inflammation responses of endothelial cells.Mechanistic studies demonstrated that fucoidan could attract fibronectin,enabling integrin binding and focal adhesion formation and activating focal adhesion kinase(FAK)signaling,and 2μm gratings further enhanced FAK-mediated cell migration.In a clinically relevant rabbit carotid artery end-to-side anastomosis model,60%in situ endothelialization was observed throughout the entire lumen of 1.7 mm inner diameter modified grafts,compared to 0%of unmodified graft,and the four-week graft patency also increased.This work presents a promising strategy to stimulate in situ endothelialization on synthetic materials for improving long-term performance.
基金support from NIH grants R01AR057837,U01AR069395,R01AR072613,R01AR074458 from NIAMS,and DoD grant W81XWH-20-1-0343,the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment,and the Tad and Diane Taube Family Foundation.
文摘Conventional synthetic vascular grafts are associated with significant failure rates due to their mismatched mechanical properties with the native vessel and poor regenerative potential.Though different tissue engineering approaches have been used to improve the biocompatibility of synthetic vascular grafts,it is still crucial to develop a new generation of synthetic grafts that can match the dynamics of native vessel and direct the host response to achieve robust vascular regeneration.The size of pores within implanted biomaterials has shown significant effects on macrophage polarization,which has been further confirmed as necessary for efficient vascular formation and remodeling.Here,we developed biodegradable,autoclavable synthetic vascular grafts from a new polyurethane elastomer and tailored the grafts’interconnected pore sizes to promote macrophage populations with a pro-regenerative phenotype and improve vascular regeneration and patency rate.The synthetic vascular grafts showed similar mechanical properties to native blood vessels,encouraged macrophage populations with varying M2 to M1 phenotypic expression,and maintained patency and vascular regeneration in a one-month rat carotid interposition model and in a four-month rat aortic interposition model.This innovative bioactive synthetic vascular graft holds promise to treat clinical vascular diseases.