Primary Reconstruction Of Complete Biological Tissue Engineered Blood Vessel And Related Basic Research

Objective: To reconstruct complete biological tissue-engineered blood vessels, and make primary researches on immunogenicity, biomechanical properties and reconstruction procedures of the tissue-engineered vessels. Materials and methods: The decellularized vascular scaffolds were obtained by enzyme digestion from swine common carotid arteries and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were isolated from dog thoracic aorta. The VSMC were seeded onto the inner surface of scaffolds and they were cocultured in improved culture system in vitro for 4 weeks. The progression of reconstruction, the immunogenicity of decellularized vascular scaffolds and the expressions of a-actin, PDGF-AA and MMP-2 in the tissue-engineered vessels were observed by histological, immunohistochemistried and electron microscopy methods. The multi-function mechanical instrument (INSTRON 1122) was used to observe the abrupt intension, the relationship of stress and strain and make the loose test of the tissue-engieered blood vessels. Swine common carotid arteries and the decellularized scaffolds served as control groups. Results: The scaffolds we gained were decellularized completely, with no cells and cell chips retained; collagen with low immunogenicity was reserved well. The reconstructed tissue-engineered vessel had a structrc similar to normal physiological vcsscle ; cells from dog could adhere to the scaffolds and grow well in them, and there were normal physiological connections formed between cells. The tissue-engineered vessels could produce extra cellular matrix (ECM); PDGF-AA and MMP-2 were highly expressed, showing that the tissue-engineered vessels have the animated ability of cell proliferation and blood vessel remodeling. The abrupt intension and elasticity could approach to the level of normal physiological vessel. Conclusion: The structure of the reconstructed blood vessels is similarto that of the normal physiological one. These tissue-engineered vessels have low immunogenicity and better biomechanical properties.