Artificial vascular implants with unidirectional drug release and mechanical properties imitating natural blood vessels

Abstract

Small-diameter artificial vessels require a combination of a range of material properties, including high strength, compliance, sutureability, and kink resistance in specific situations. We combined electrospinning technology with thermally induced separation technology to prepare composite three-layer artificial vessels using a PCL/gelatin co-blended material and a hybrid hydrogel enhanced gel structure to achieve high strength, flexibility and kink resistance, as well as excellent water tightness. The electrospun fibers in the artificial vessel provide mechanical stability, while the gelatin blended material enhances hydrophilicity. The results show that the three-layer composite structure is well bonded together, provides sufficient rupture strength and sutureability, and exhibits arterial-like compliance and resistance to kinking. The hydrogel layer drug release rate can also be adjusted by adjusting the PCL/gelatin co-blended layer ratio. This composite vascular scaffold is expected to play an important role in tissue engineering.