title: Initial investigation of novel human-like collagen/chitosan scaffold for vascular tissue engineering.
abstract: With the increasing occurrence of vascular diseases and poor long-term patency rates of current small diameter vascular grafts, it becomes urgent to pursuit biomaterial as scaffold to mimic blood vessel morphologically and mechanically. In this study, novel human-like collagen (HLC, produced by recombinant E. coli)/chitosan tubular scaffolds were fabricated by cross-linking and freeze-drying process. The scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and tensile test, respectively. Human venous fibroblasts were expanded and seeded onto the scaffolds in the density of 1 x 10(5) cells/cm(2). After a 15-day culture under static conditions, the cell-polymer constructs were observed using SEM, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), histological examination, and biochemical assays for cell proliferation and extracellular matrix production (collagen and glycosaminoglycans). Furthermore, the scaffolds were implanted into rabbits' livers to evaluate their biocompatibility. The results indicated that HLC/chitosan tubular scaffolds (1) exhibited interconnected porous structure; (2) achieved the desirable levels of pliability (elastic up to 30% strain) and stress of 300 +/- 16 kPa; (3) were capable of enhancing cell adhesion and proliferation and ECM secretion; (4) showed superior biocompatibility. This study suggested the feasibility of HLC/chitosan composite as a promising candidate scaffold for blood vessel tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Chenhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Daidi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Zhiguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Wenjiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Longan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Fulin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yane
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008422:Materials Testing; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA; D048271:Chitosan; D006909:Hydroxyproline