Blood Flow Within Bioengineered 3D Printed Vascular Constructs Using the Porcine Model

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

article

Nhu Thao N. Galván¹  Samantha J. Paulsen²  Ian S. Kinstlinger²  Juan C. Marini³  Inka C. Didelija³  Dor Yoeli¹  Bagrat Grigoryan²  Jordan S. Miller² 

[1] Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine;Department of Bioengineering, Rice University;Department of Pediatrics-Critical Care, Baylor College of Medicine

关键词: bioengineered alternative tissue;    porcine (pig) model;    vascular constructs;    3D printed;    sterolithography;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fcvm.2021.629313

学科分类：地球科学(综合)

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Recently developed biofabrication technologies are enabling the production of three-dimensional engineered tissues containing vascular networks which can deliver oxygen and nutrients across large tissue volumes. Tissues at this scale show promise for eventual regenerative medicine applications; however, the implantation and integration of these constructs in vivo remains poorly studied. Here, we introduce a surgical model for implantation and direct in-line vascular connection of 3D printed hydrogels in a porcine arteriovenous shunt configuration. Utilizing perfusable poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels fabricated through projection stereolithography, we first optimized the implantation procedure in deceased piglets. Subsequently, we utilized the arteriovenous shunt model to evaluate blood flow through implanted PEGDA hydrogels in non-survivable studies. Connections between the host femoral artery and vein were robust and the patterned vascular channels withstood arterial pressure, permitting blood flow for 6 h. Our study demonstrates rapid prototyping of a biocompatible and perfusable hydrogel that can be implanted in vivo as a porcine arteriovenous shunt, suggesting a viable surgical approach for in-line implantation of bioprinted tissues, along with design considerations for future in vivo studies. We further envision that this surgical model may be broadly applicable for assessing whether biomaterials optimized for 3D printing and cell function can also withstand vascular cannulation and arterial blood pressure. This provides a crucial step toward generated transplantable engineered organs, demonstrating successful implantation of engineered tissues within host vasculature.

【 授权许可】

CC BY