Biodegradable Drug-eluting Nanofiber-loaded Vascular Graft

Abstract

Vascular graft is used for stent graft, dialysis access, limb revascularization, and arterial/venous reconstruction. Graft infection is a major complication in vascular surgery. The current treatment relies on systemic antibiotics and surgical graft removal, which often result in limb loss, major soft tissue defects, dialysis access loss, sepsis, and death. Vascular graft is vulnerable to bacterial seeding at time of implantation. The systemic administration of antibiotics by itself fails to prevent graft infection due to inadequate drug concentration outside of the graft.