Enhanced Biocompatibility of Multi-Layered, 3D Bio-Printed Artificial Vessels Composed of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Eui Jang,Jung-Hwan Kim,Dae-Hyun Kim,Jun Lee,Young-Nam Youn

doi:10.3390/polym12030538

Eui Jang, Jung-Hwan Kim + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030538

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Abstract

Artificial vessels capable of long-term patency are essential clinical tools in vascular surgery that involves small vessels. On-going attempts to develop artificial vessels that complements restenosis have not been entirely successful. Here, we report on the fabrication of small-sized artificial vessels using a three-dimensional bio-printer. The fabrication employed biodegradable polycaprolactone and autologous MSCs harvested from the bone-marrow of canines. The MSCs were cultured and differentiated into endothelial-like cells. After confirming differentiation, artificial vessels comprising three-layers were constructed and implanted into the arteries of canines. The autologous MSCs printed on artificial vessels (cell-derived group) maintained a 64.3% patency (9 of 14 grafts) compared with artificial vessels without cells (control group, 54.5% patency (6 of 11 grafts)). The cell-derived vessels (61.9 cells/mm2 ± 14.3) had more endothelial cells on their inner surfaces than the control vessels (21 cells/mm2 ± 11.3). Moreover, the control vessels showed acute inflammation on the porous structures of the implanted artificial vessels, whereas the cell-derived vessels exhibited fibrinous clots with little to no inflammation. We concluded that the minimal rejection of these artificial vessels by the immune system was due to the use of autologous MSCs. We anticipate that this study will be of value in the field of tissue-engineering in clinical practice.

Highlights

Cardiovascular surgery must often be accompanied by a vascular graft to replace or bypass dysfunctional blood vessels
We implanted the artificial vessels into dogs and confirmed that the inner luminal surfaces of the vessels were covered with endothelial cells and had little inflammation after implantation
Various non-degradable materials are used in vascular replacement surgery, there are limitations to the uses thereof for fabricating vessels that are small in diameter because of thrombosis and the potential for blood clots [20]

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular surgery must often be accompanied by a vascular graft to replace or bypass dysfunctional blood vessels. These grafts may be autologous, in which case the saphenous vein and the internal mammary artery as the primary bypass vessel is often used, or they may be synthetic in origin, derived from polymers such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), Dacron, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The long-term maintenance of such grafts is limited due to complications from graft occlusion, thrombosis, rejection by the immune system, calcification, or infection [1]. Because of these limitations, alternative materials and methods with which to replace vascular grafts that are small in diameter are currently being explored. Decellularized vascular grafts have been developed in an attempt to prevent graft failure due to immune rejection

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