Suture-reinforced polydioxanone-elastin for tissue engineering of small-diameter vessels: a feasibility study

Abstract

Objective To investigate the feasibility of constructing sutuze-reinforced polydioxanone(PDS)multilayer small-caliber artificial scaffolds and determine its biomechanical properties.Methods 7-0PDS fibers were woven into a stent with 4 mm inner diameter.The influence of different weaving angle and knitting structure on the mechanical properties were investigated.Multilayer scaffolds were constructed using the preparecl PDS stent as the middle elasticity layer and covering it with small intestinal submucosa(SIS).To reinforce the scaffold,the outer two lavers were continuously sutured with 8-0 PDS suture perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.The inner layer of scaffold was coated With collagen sponge which was added with 10%chondroitin sulfate(CS).The biomechanical properties of the scaffold such as burst strength,tensile strength and compliance were tested and compared to those of canine carotid artery.Results 65-degree weaving angle was chosen to construct stent with 4 mm inner diameter and 3 to 5 cm length.These scaffolds had(43.50±8.30)kPa burst strength,(19.10±1.56)N tensile strength,(42.88±3.16)% strain ratio and(5.96±0.87)%/100 mm Hg radial compliance.Conclusion The multilayer scaffolds have satisfactory biomechanical properties that meet the mechanical requirements for in vivo implantation as a tissue engineered blood vessel. Key words: Tissue engineering; Blood vessels; Biomechanics; Polydioxanone