Fabric-enhanced Vascular Graft with Hierarchical Structure for Promoting The Regeneration of Vascular Tissue.

Natural blood vessels have complete functions, including elasticity, compliance, and excellent antithrombotic properties because of their mature structure. To replace damaged blood vessels, vascular grafts should perform these functions by simulating the natural vascular structures. Although the structures of natural blood vessels have been thoroughly explored, constructing a small-diameter vascular graft that matches the mechanical and biological properties of natural blood vessels remains a challenge. We fabricated a hierarchical vascular graft by electrospinning, braiding, and thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) and named it EBT vascular graft (EBTVG) to simulate the structure of natural blood vessels. The internal electrospun structure facilitated the adhesion of endothelial cells, thereby accelerating endothelialization. The intermediate PLGA fabric exhibited excellent mechanical properties, which allowed it to maintain its shape during long-term transplantation and prevent graft expansion. The external macroporous structure is beneficial for cell growth and infiltration. Blood vessel remodeling aims to combine a structure that promotes tissue regeneration with anti-inflammatory materials. The results in vitro demonstrated that the EBTVG had matched the mechanical properties, reliable cytocompatibility, and the strongest endothelialization in situ. The results in vitro and replacement of the resected artery in vivo suggested that the EBTVG combined different structural advantages with biomechanical properties and reliable biocompatibility, significantly promoting the stabilization and regeneration of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), as well as stabilizing the blood microenvironment . This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.