title: A Novel Small-Caliber Bacterial Cellulose Vascular Prosthesis: Production, Characterization, and Preliminary In Vivo Testing.
abstract: Vascular grafts are used to bypass damaged or diseased blood vessels. Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been studied for use as an off-the-shelf graft. Herein, we present a novel, cost-effective, method for the production of small caliber BC grafts with minimal processing or requirements. The morphology of the graft wall produced a tensile strength above that of native vessels, performing similarly to the current commercial alternatives. As a result of the production method, the luminal surface of the graft presents similar topography to that of native vessels. We have also studied the in vivo behavior of these BC graft in order to further demonstrate their viability. In these preliminary studies, 1 month patency was achieved, with the presence of neo-vessels and endothelial cells on the luminal surface of the graft.
authors.affiliation: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandre F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leitão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias; Laboratório de Farmacologia e Neurobiologia; Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica (UMIB), ICBAS- Biomedical Sciences Institute Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Oporto 4050-313, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.affiliation: ICBAS- Biomedical Sciences Institute Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Oporto 4050-313, Portugal.
authors.forename: Augusto M R
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Faustino
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering & Textile Implants, AME-Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, D-52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Tissue Engineering & Textile Implants, AME-Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, D-52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mela
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Oporto 4050-313, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Oporto 4050-313, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ivone
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga 4710-057, Portugal. fmgama@deb.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002482:Cellulose; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D005260:Female; D041822:Gluconacetobacter xylinus; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose
keywords: bacterial cellulose; biocompatibility; endothelialization; mechanical properties; surface roughness; vascular grafts