Preclinical study of patient-specific cell-free nanofiber tissue-engineered
vascular grafts (TEVGs) using 3D printing in a sheep model. Despite advances in
surgical management of congenital heart disease, significant morbidity and
mortality arise due to surgical complexity. Patient-specific graft design before
surgery has the potential to overcome these challenges and improve
patients’ quality of life. This study demonstrates our integrated
approach of 3D imaging, 3D printing, and tissue engineering technology to design
and create patient-specific vascular grafts before surgery in a sheep model.
There were no significant differences in burst pressure and compliance between
grafts and native inferior vena cava (IVC). The grafts showed native-like
neotissue formation at 6 months after surgery with their scaffolds almost fully
degraded, with only 2% of the initial scaffolds remaining on average.
Extracellular matrix, elastin, and collagen production and endothelialization
were similar in grafts and native IVC, with no vascular calcification. The
presence of multilayer smooth muscle cells and a decreasing pressure gradient at
6 months compared with 3 months suggested graft remodeling. There was a
significant positive relationship between graft wall thickness and
CD68+ macrophage infiltration into the scaffold. We have
demonstrated the feasibility of creating patient-specific nanofiber TEVGs using
combined technology of electrospinning and 3D printing. Video available at:
http://www.jtcvsonline.org/article/S0022-5223(16)31466-0/addons.