Evaluation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells growth onto heparin-modified electrospun vascular grafts

One of the main challenges cardiovascular tissue engineering is development bioresorbable and compliant small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVG) for patients where autologous are not an option. In this work, electrospun bilayered SDVG based on blends poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) segmented polyurethane (PHD) were prepared evaluated. The inner layer these was surface-modified with heparin, following a methodology involving PHD urethane functional groups. Heparin selected as anticoagulant agent, also due to its ability promote human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) growth inhibit smooth muscle over-proliferation, cause neointimal hyperplasia restenosis. Immobilized heparin quantified changes in microstructure investigated through SEM. Tensile properties heparin-functionalized resembled those saphenous vein. Vascular seeded HUVECs cultured flow-perfusion bioreactor analyze effect graft endothelization under simulated physiological-like conditions. analysis attachment gene expression (Real-Time PCR) pointed out that surface functionalization successfully promoted stable cell layer.