Construction of small-caliber tissue engineered blood vessel in vitro

Abstract

Objective To investigate the feasibility of constructing small-caliber tissue engineered blood vessels in vitro. Methods Canine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultured and differentiated to endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscular cells (SMCs) in vitro. The SMCs and ECs were seeded on the lumen of the PCLA scaffold. The scaffold was connected to a pulsatile flow chamber in bioreactor. After its culturing in a bioreactor with mechanical stimulation ( 100 ± 20/55 ± 20) mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0. 133 kPa)for 3 days, the scaffold was observed under the scanning electron microscopy and by using immunofluorescence staining. Results The tensile strength of scaffold was 6. 1 MPa. The MSCs were differentiated to ECs and SMCs. A confluent cellular monolayer covering the inner surface of the scaffold was found. Cells were elongated and aligned in the direction of the blood flow. The seeding cells were infiltrated into the interstitia of the PCLA scaffold. Conclusion MSCs as seeding cells and PCLA as scaffold are able to construct a tissue engineering vessel in a bioreactor. Key words: Mesenchymal stem cell; Tissue engineering; Blood vessel