Self-assembled Collagen-Fibrin Hydrogel Reinforces Tissue Engineered Adventitia Vessels Seeded with Human Fibroblasts.

ABSTRACT: Efforts for tissue engineering vascular grafts focuses on the tunica media and intima, although the tunica adventitia serves as the primary structural support for blood vessels. In surgery, during endarterectomies, surgeons can strip the vessel, leaving the adventitia as the main strength layer to close the vessel. Here, we adapted our recently developed technique of forming vascular tissue rings then stacking the rings into a tubular structure, to accommodate human fibroblasts to create adventitia vessels in 8 days. Collagen production and fibril cross-linking was augmented with TGF-β and ascorbic acid, significantly increasing tensile strength to 57.8 ± 3.07 kPa (p = 0.008). Collagen type I gel was added to the base fibrin hydrogel to further increase strength. Groups were: Fibrin only;

SUBMITTER: Patel B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5818609 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature