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Endothelialization of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) small caliber vascular grafts spun from different polymer blends
Author(s) -
Pfeiffer D.,
Stefanitsch C.,
Wankhammer K.,
Müller M.,
Dreyer L.,
Krolitzki B.,
Zernetsch H.,
Glasmacher B.,
Lindner C.,
Lass A.,
Schwarz M.,
Muckenauer W.,
Lang I.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.35123
Subject(s) - polycaprolactone , materials science , fibronectin , biomedical engineering , electrospinning , peg ratio , tissue engineering , polymer , extracellular matrix , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , composite material , biology , finance , economics
Small caliber vascular grafts represent a challenge to material scientists. In contrast to large caliber grafts, prostheses with diameter <6 mm, lead to increased hemodynamic disturbances and thrombogenic complications. Thus, endothelialization of small caliber grafts should create a compatible interface for hemodynamic processes. The purpose of our study was to compare different compositions of electrospun scaffolds with conventional ePTFE grafts with an inner diameter of 4 mm as well as different pre‐coatings to create an optimized physiological interface for endothelialization. Polycaprolactone, polylactide, and polyethylenglycol (PCL/PLA and PCL/PLA/PEG) electrospun grafts and ePTFE grafts were pre‐coated with blood, gelatine or fibronectin and seeded with endothelial cells from the human term placenta. Best results were obtained with fibronectin‐coated PCL/PLA/PEG grafts. Here, the number of attached viable cells was 78–81% higher than on fibronectin pre‐treated ePTFE grafts. Cells attached to PCL/PLA/PEG grafts appeared in physiological cobblestone morphology. Viability analysis showed a high cell viability of more than 98%. Fibronectin‐coated PCL/PLA/PEG grafts may be a promising improvement to conventionally used ePTFE grafts. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 102A: 4500–4509, 2014.