A small diameter, fibrous vascular conduit generated from a poly(ester urethane)urea and phospholipid polymer blend

Biomaterials. 2009 May;30(13):2457-67. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.01.013. Epub 2009 Feb 1.

Abstract

The thrombotic and hyperplastic limitations associated with synthetic small diameter vascular grafts have generated sustained interest in finding a tissue engineering solution for autologous vascular segment generation in situ. One approach is to place a biodegradable scaffold at the site that would provide acute mechanical support while vascular tissue develops. To generate a scaffold that possessed both non-thrombogenic character and mechanical properties appropriate for vascular tissue, a biodegradable poly(ester urethane)urea (PEUU) and non-thrombogenic bioinspired phospholipid polymer, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-methacryloyloxyethyl butylurethane) (PMBU) were blended at PMBU weight fractions of 0-15% and electrospun to create fibrous scaffolds. The composite scaffolds were flexible with breaking strains exceeding 300%, tensile strengths of 7-10MPa and compliances of 2.9-4.4 x 10(-4) mmHg(-1). In vitro platelet deposition on the scaffold surfaces significantly decreased with increasing PMBU content. Rat smooth muscle cell proliferation was also inhibited on PEUU/PMBU blended scaffolds with greater inhibition at higher PMBU content. Fibrous vascular conduits (1.3mm inner diameter) implanted in the rat abdominal aorta for 8 weeks showed greater patency for grafts with 15% PMBU blending versus PEUU without PMBU (67% versus 40%). A thin neo-intimal layer with endothelial coverage and good anastomotic tissue integration was seen for the PEUU/PMBU vascular grafts. These results are encouraging for further evaluation of this technique in larger diameter applications for longer implant periods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Platelets / enzymology
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electrons
  • Methacrylates / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phospholipids / chemistry*
  • Phosphorylcholine / analogs & derivatives
  • Phosphorylcholine / chemistry
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Sheep

Substances

  • Methacrylates
  • Phospholipids
  • Polyesters
  • poly(ester urethane)urea
  • Phosphorylcholine
  • 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine