Three-Layered PCL Grafts Promoted Vascular Regeneration in a Rabbit Carotid Artery Model

• Published in: Macromolecular bioscience Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 608 - 618
• Main Authors: Wang, Kai, Zheng, Wenting, Pan, Yiwa, Ma, Shaoyang, Guan, Yong, Liu, Ruming, Zhu, Meifeng, Zhou, Xin, Zhang, Jun, Zhao, Qiang, Zhu, Yan, Wang, Lianyong, Kong, Deling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Vessel Prosthesis - veterinary; Carotid arteries; Carotid Artery Injuries - genetics; Carotid Artery Injuries - metabolism; Carotid Artery Injuries - pathology; Carotid Artery Injuries - therapy; Carotid Artery, Common - drug effects; Cell Movement; cellular infiltration; Chemokine CCL2 - genetics; Chemokine CCL2 - metabolism; Controllers; Electrochemical Techniques; Electrospinning; Female; Gene Expression; Grafts; Infiltration; Macrophages - cytology; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - metabolism; Neovascularization, Physiologic - drug effects; poly(ε-caprolactone); Polyesters - chemistry; Polyesters - pharmacology; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyethylene Glycols - pharmacology; Programmable logic devices; Rabbits; Regeneration; Regeneration - drug effects; tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; vascular grafts; tissue engineering; poly(ε-caprolactone); vascular grafts; electrospinning; cellular infiltration
• ISSN: 1616-5187; 1616-5195; 1616-5195
• DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201500355

In this study, a three layered poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) graft (tPCL) was fabricated by electrospinning PCL and electrospraying poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO), which has a thin dense inner layer, a loose middle layer, and a dense outer layer. Regular PCL grafts (rPCL) with only a dense layer were used as control. In vivo evaluation was performed in rabbit carotid artery. Enhanced cell infiltration, rapid regeneration of endothelium and smooth muscle layers, and increased elastin deposition were observed within the tPCL graft wall. After 3 months, tPCL grafts showed faster PCL degradation than the rPCL grafts. Infiltrated macrophages in the tPCL grafts secreted higher level of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which enhanced vascular regeneration. In conclusion, the tPCL graft may be a useful vascular prosthesis and worth for further investigation. A middle loose layer is created in preparation of vascular grafts by electrospinning poly(ε‐caprolactone) and electrospraying poly(ethylene oxide). The presence of loose layer overcomes the limitation of small pores in the regular electrospun scaffolds, significantly enhanced macrophage infiltration, cellularization, and blood vessel regeneration in rabbit carotid artery implantation.