Mechanical properties of endothelialized fibroblast-derived vascular scaffolds stimulated in a bioreactor.
There is an ongoing clinical need for tissue-engineered small-diameter (<6mm) vascular grafts since clinical applications are restricted by the limited availability of autologous living grafts or the lack of suitability of synthetic grafts. The present study uses our self-assembly approach to produce a fibroblast-derived decellularized vascular scaffold that can then be available off-the-shelf. Briefly, scaffolds were produced using human dermal fibroblasts sheets rolled around a mandrel, maintained in culture to allow for the formation of cohesive and three-dimensional tubular constructs, and then decellularized by immersion in deionized water. Constructs were then endothelialized and perfused for 1week in an appropriate bioreactor. Mechanical testing results showed that the decellularization process did not influence the resistance of the tissue and an increase in ultimate tensile strength was observed following the perfusion of the construct in the bioreactor. These fibroblast-derived vascular scaffolds could be stored and later used to deliver readily implantable grafts within 4weeks including an autologous endothelial cell isolation and seeding process. This technology could greatly accelerate the clinical availability of tissue-engineered blood vessels.
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada.
Maxime Y
MY
Tondreau
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Véronique
V
Laterreur
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada; Centre québécois sur les matériaux fonctionnels, Québec, Canada.
Robert
R
Gauvin
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada.
Karine
K
Vallières
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada.
Jean-Michel
JM
Bourget
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada.
Dan
D
Lacroix
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Catherine
C
Tremblay
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Lucie
L
Germain
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Jean
J
Ruel
Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX - Division of Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Canada; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. Electronic address: francois.auger@fmed.ulaval.ca.
François A
FA
Auger
D000328:Adult; D019149:Bioreactors; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003187:Compliance; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010477:Perfusion; D011312:Pressure; D013537:Sutures; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D004247:DNA
Decellularization; Endothelialization; Mechanical properties; Tissue engineering; Vascular grafts