A Fiber-Reinforced, Large Vessel, Chitosan Scaffold for Pediatric Applications

摘要

Congenital heart and large vessel defects are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients. Current vessel replacement options lack the capacity to grow and remodel in response to patient needs. This limitation is a major problem for pediatric patients who may require multiple surgical procedures before reaching adulthood. In this study, we explored the prospect of a tissue engineered large vessel graft using polysaccharide biomaterials. Our scaffold design was based on the use of chitosan as the main structural biopolymer, with cell adhesion ligands provided by blending Type I collagen with the chitosan. In addition, we explored the effects of covalently grafting various glycosaminoglycans to the scaffold surfaces to promote binding and presentation of growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins. The aim of the present study is to evaluate a tissue engineered blood vessel in which the extracellular matrix production, collagen and cellular growth can be enhanced and produced similar to natural artery.