Gelatine and Gelatine/elastin Nanocomposites for Vascular Grafts: Microstructural and Mechanical Characterisation

This study involves the preparation, microstructural, physical, mechanical and biological characterization of novel gelatine and gelatine/elastin gels for their use in the tissue engineering of vascular grafts. Gelatine and gelatin/elastin nanocomposite gels were prepared via a sol-gel process, using soluble gelatine. Gelatine was subsequently crosslinked by leaving the gels in 1% glutaraldehyde. The crosslinking time was optimized by assessing the mass loss of the crosslinked gels in water and examining their mechanical properties in dynamic mechanical tests. AFM (atomic force microscopy) studies revealed elastin nanodomains, homogeneously distributed and embedded in a bed of gelatine nanofibrils in the 30/70 elastin/gelatine gel. It was concluded that the manufactured nanocomposite gels resembled natural arteries in terms of microstructure and stiffness. The biological characterization involved the culture of rat SMCs (smooth muscle cells) on tubular gelatine and gelatine/elastin nanocomposite gels, measurements of the scaffold diameter and the cell density as a function of time.