Application of collagen protein and elastin in blood vessel tissue-engineering

Abstract

Collagen protein and elastin are two of the most important components of extracellular matrix. Different extracellular matrix play important role in endotheliocyte growth and tissue regeneration. Collagen protein as skeleton structures of extracellular matrix, combined with different materials and in different ways, results in intravascular stent substitutes with different manehnical strength and biological characteristics. Collagen as a eoagulator that concealed by some methods can avoid thrombosis. The cross-linked collagen and the collagen oversleeve mixture used in scaffolds may strengthen the substitutes. Elastins are important structure of blood vessel and play important role in maintaining the elasticity and bionomics of blood vessel, and thus have a tremendous application potential as scaffolds and coating scaffolds materials. Key words: Tissue engineering blood vessel; Collagen protein; Elastin