Macromolecular Biomaterials for Scaffold‐Based Vascular Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are increasingly becoming the main cause of death all over the world, which has led to an increase in the economic and social burden of such diseases. Vascular tissue engineering (VTE) is providing a route towards interesting applications, mainly focussing on the in vitro, in vivo, or combined in vitro/in vivo regeneration of small-diameter blood vessels (<6 mm) for coronary or peripheral vascular substitutions. Although different approaches have been investigated in the past two decades to achieve this aim, the most common method uses a macromolecular-based structure to scaffold cells during the regeneration process. Therefore, the aim of this work is to comprehensively review macromolecular biomaterials that were designed, developed, fabricated, and tested for scaffolding VTE. In an effort to provide a comprehensive overview, this review will mainly focus on the mechanical properties of the construct and its biological performance that results from the scaffold colonization during cell growth.

Chemically cross-linked silk fibroin hydrogel with enhanced elastic properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility

“…By contrast, most chemical cross-linking reactions of SF can induce a modification of proteins, resulting in structural destabilization and inflammation by exposure to toxic organic solvents and cross-linking agents. 22 In this study, the SF C-gel was prepared by γ-ray irradiation, which induced intermolecular cross-linking reactions. In order to investigate the effect of irradiation on the gelation of the SF solution, the solutions were γ-ray irradiated at various doses of 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 kGy.…”

Tailoring Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Scaffolds for Vascular Tissue Engineering: The Effects of pH, Temperature and Ionic Strength on Gelation

“…The resulting tubular construct is expected to be remodeled by cellular activity within one week in static culture after which the construct is to be placed in a bioreactor for dynamic conditioning and final maturation [12]. At the same time, the gel used in this approach does not seem to be sufficiently resistant to ensure the integrity of the construct, neither during the procedures of manipulation and mounting in the bioreactor, nor during the first period of dynamic conditioning while the mechanical resistance of the construct is mainly provided by the scaffold [26]. Other works showed the possibility of associating additional supports to the collagen gel-based construct in order to preserve its structural integrity during these steps [15,27,28].…”

Manufacturing of Biodegradable Scaffolds to Engineer Artificial Blood Vessel

“…PCL is semicrystalline, aliphatic polyester synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (25,26,27). It shows good mechanical properties, specifically high elongation and strength, and good biocompatibility (27,28).…”

“…slowly in vivo by enzymatic action and by hydrolysis to caproic acid and its oligomers (25,27). It takes more than one year to completely degrade in vivo (27,28).…”

“…It takes more than one year to completely degrade in vivo (27,28). PCL is a FDA approved polymer (25). The degradation products are ultimately removed by giant macrophage cells (29,30).…”