Small-diameter hybrid vascular grafts composed of polycaprolactone and polydioxanone fibers

• Published in: Scientific reports 2017-06, Vol.7 (1), p.3615-11, Article 3615
• Main Authors: Pan, Yiwa, Zhou, Xin, Wei, Yongzhen, Zhang, Qiuying, Wang, Ting, Zhu, Meifeng, Li, Wen, Huang, Rui, Liu, Ruming, Chen, Jingrui, Fan, Guanwei, Wang, Kai, Kong, Deling, Zhao, Qiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13/107; 14/19; 631/61/490; 631/61/54/993; 631/92; 639/301/54/994; Aneurysm; Animals; Aorta; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biomarkers; Doppler effect; Endothelial cells; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Fibers; Humanities and Social Sciences; Immunofluorescence; Mechanical properties; multidisciplinary; Muscle, Smooth - metabolism; Nanofibers - chemistry; Nanofibers - ultrastructure; Neointima - diagnostic imaging; Neointima - metabolism; Neointima - pathology; Polycaprolactone; Polydioxanone - chemistry; Polyesters - chemistry; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Pore size; Rats; Regeneration; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Smooth muscle; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03851-1

Electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) vascular grafts showed good mechanical properties and patency. However, the slow degradation of PCL limited vascular regeneration in the graft. Polydioxanone (PDS) is a biodegradable polymer with high mechanical strength and moderate degradation rate in vivo . In this study, a small-diameter hybrid vascular graft was prepared by co-electrospinning PCL and PDS fibers. The incorporation of PDS improves mechanical properties, hydrophilicity of the hybrid grafts compared to PCL grafts. The in vitro/vivo degradation assay showed that PDS fibers completely degraded within 12 weeks, which resulted in the increased pore size of PCL/PDS grafts. The healing characteristics of the hybrid grafts were evaluated by implantation in rat abdominal aorta replacement model for 1 and 3 months. Color Doppler ultrasound demonstrated PCL/PDS grafts had good patency, and did not show aneurysmal dilatation. Immunofluorescence staining showed the coverage of endothelial cells (ECs) was significantly enhanced in PCL/PDS grafts due to the improved surface hydrophilicity. The degradation of PDS fibers provided extra space, which facilitated vascular smooth muscle regeneration within PCL/PDS grafts. These results suggest that the hybrid PCL/PDS graft may be a promising candidate for the small-diameter vascular grafts.