Fabrication of Endothelial Cell-Lining Polyurethane/Polycaprolactone Tubular Scaffold Coated with Conjugated Linoleic Acid for Small-Diameter Vascular Graft

Artificial vascular transplantation is one of the potential state-of-the-art therapies for cardiovascular diseases, which are known as a leading cause of death worldwide. With the development of vascular tissue engineering, researchers have succeeded in creating large-caliber vascular structures. However, the challenges of fabricating artificial blood vessels less than 6 mm in diameter remain unsolved. In this study, we fabricated tubular structures of this size from blended polyurethane/polycaprolactone nanofibers coated with anti-thrombogenic agents and lined with endothelial cells. The polymeric structure from those two cytocompatible polymers demonstrated suitable physical properties as a vascular graft. Further investigation on cell-material interaction with bovine artery endothelial cells established that the conjugated linoleic acid-grafted scaffold supported monolayer endothelial proliferation while limiting platelet adhesion. This approach could pave a way for developing a promising therapeutic method of artificial vascular transplantation that effectively overcomes occlusion.