Electrospun poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone)-collagen-chitosan vascular graft in a canine femoral artery model

J Mater Chem B. 2015 Jul 28;3(28):5760-5768. doi: 10.1039/c5tb00599j. Epub 2015 Jun 18.

Abstract

Poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone)-collagen-chitosan (P(LLA-CL)-COL-CS) composite grafts were electrospun in this study. Based on the test results for mechanical properties, biodegradability and in vitro cellular compatibility, the optimal weight ratio of P(LLA-CL) to COL/CS was set as 3 : 1. In vivo study was further performed in a canine femoral artery model. The results showed that the 3 : 1 grafts possessed excellent structural integrity, higher patency rate, better endothelial cell (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC) growth, as well as higher levels of gene and protein expression of angiogenesis-related cues than those of grafts based on P(LLA-CL). The findings confirmed that the addition of natural materials, such as collagen and chitosan, could effectively improve endothelialization, SMC incursion into the tunica media, and vascular remodeling for tissue engineering.