Electrospun compliant heparinized elastic vascular graft for improving the patency after implantation

Abstract

The low patency rate after artificial blood vessel replacement is mainly due to the ineffective use of anticoagulant factors and the mismatch of mechanical compliance after transplantation. Electrospun nanofibers with biomimetic extracellular matrix three-dimensional structure and tunable mechanical strength are excellent carriers for heparin. In this work, we have designed and synthesized a series of biodegradable poly(ester-ether-urethane)ureas (BEPU), following compound with optimized constant concentration of heparin by homogeneous emulsion blending, then spun into the hybrid BEPU/heparin nanofibers tubular graft for replacing rats' abdominal aorta in situ for comprehensive performance evaluation. The results in vitro demonstrated that the electrospun L-PEUUH (LDI-based PEUU with heparin) vascular graft was of regular microstructure, optimum surface wettability, matched mechanical properties, reliable cytocompatibility, and strongest endothelialization in situ. Replacement of resected abdominal artery with the L-PEUUH vascular graft in rat showed that the graft was capable of homogeneous hybrid heparin and significantly promoted the stabilization of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), as well as stabilizing the blood microenvironment. This research demonstrates the L-PEUUH vascular graft with substantial patency, indicating their potential for injured vascular healing.