TY - JOUR

T1 - Development of a dual-component infection-resistant arterial replacement for small-caliber reconstructions

T2 - A proof-of-concept study

AU - Zia, Sonia

AU - Djalali-Cuevas, Adrian

AU - Pflaum, Michael

AU - Hegermann, Jan

AU - Dipresa, Daniele

AU - Kalozoumis, Panagiotis

AU - Kouvaka, Artemis

AU - Burgwitz, Karin

AU - Andriopoulou, Sofia

AU - Repanas, Alexandros

AU - Will, Fabian

AU - Grote, Karsten

AU - Schrimpf, Claudia

AU - Toumpaniari, Sotiria

AU - Mueller, Marc

AU - Glasmacher, Birgit

AU - Haverich, Axel

AU - Morticelli, Lucrezia

AU - Korossis, Sotirios

N1 - Funding Information: This research was funded by the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the EU seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007–2013/ under the TECAS-ITN (317512), the German Research Foundation through the Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH (EXC 62), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, UK; EP/D073618/1), and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

PY - 2023/1/18

Y1 - 2023/1/18

N2 - Introduction: Synthetic vascular grafts perform poorly in small-caliber (<6mm) anastomoses, due to intimal hyperplasia and thrombosis, whereas homografts are associated with limited availability and immunogenicity, and bioprostheses are prone to aneurysmal degeneration and calcification. Infection is another important limitation with vascular grafting. This study developed a dual-component graft for small-caliber reconstructions, comprising a decellularized tibial artery scaffold and an antibiotic-releasing, electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blend sleeve. Methods: The study investigated the effect of nucleases, as part of the decellularization technique, and two sterilization methods (peracetic acid and γ-irradiation), on the scaffold’s biological and biomechanical integrity. It also investigated the effect of different PCL/PEG ratios on the antimicrobial, biological and biomechanical properties of the sleeves. Tibial arteries were decellularized using Triton X-100 and sodium-dodecyl-sulfate. Results: The scaffolds retained the general native histoarchitecture and biomechanics but were depleted of glycosaminoglycans. Sterilization with peracetic acid depleted collagen IV and produced ultrastructural changes in the collagen and elastic fibers. The two PCL/PEG ratios used (150:50 and 100:50) demonstrated differences in the structural, biomechanical and antimicrobial properties of the sleeves. Differences in the antimicrobial activity were also found between sleeves fabricated with antibiotics supplemented in the electrospinning solution, and sleeves soaked in antibiotics. Discussion: The study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating a dual-component small-caliber graft, comprising a scaffold with sufficient biological and biomechanical functionality, and an electrospun PCL/PEG sleeve with tailored biomechanics and antibiotic release.

AB - Introduction: Synthetic vascular grafts perform poorly in small-caliber (<6mm) anastomoses, due to intimal hyperplasia and thrombosis, whereas homografts are associated with limited availability and immunogenicity, and bioprostheses are prone to aneurysmal degeneration and calcification. Infection is another important limitation with vascular grafting. This study developed a dual-component graft for small-caliber reconstructions, comprising a decellularized tibial artery scaffold and an antibiotic-releasing, electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blend sleeve. Methods: The study investigated the effect of nucleases, as part of the decellularization technique, and two sterilization methods (peracetic acid and γ-irradiation), on the scaffold’s biological and biomechanical integrity. It also investigated the effect of different PCL/PEG ratios on the antimicrobial, biological and biomechanical properties of the sleeves. Tibial arteries were decellularized using Triton X-100 and sodium-dodecyl-sulfate. Results: The scaffolds retained the general native histoarchitecture and biomechanics but were depleted of glycosaminoglycans. Sterilization with peracetic acid depleted collagen IV and produced ultrastructural changes in the collagen and elastic fibers. The two PCL/PEG ratios used (150:50 and 100:50) demonstrated differences in the structural, biomechanical and antimicrobial properties of the sleeves. Differences in the antimicrobial activity were also found between sleeves fabricated with antibiotics supplemented in the electrospinning solution, and sleeves soaked in antibiotics. Discussion: The study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating a dual-component small-caliber graft, comprising a scaffold with sufficient biological and biomechanical functionality, and an electrospun PCL/PEG sleeve with tailored biomechanics and antibiotic release.

KW - antimicrobial activity

KW - biomechanics

KW - decellularized scaffold

KW - polymeric sleeve

KW - small-caliber vascular graft

KW - tibial artery

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147194523&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3389/fbioe.2023.957458

DO - 10.3389/fbioe.2023.957458

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85147194523

VL - 11

JO - Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

JF - Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

SN - 2296-4185

M1 - 957458

ER -