Choice, isolation, and preparation of cells for bioartificial vascular grafts.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Preparation of cells and tissues for bioartificial vascular grafts is discussed from the viewpoint of tissue engineering. In general, a neointima is not formed on vascular prostheses except at the anastomotic sites. Graft surfaces do not heal and are covered with fresh thrombi for a long period of time after implantation. The delayed healing is, so to speak, an intractable ulcer of the vascular wall. To overcome this problem, we have developed a tissue fragment transplantation method. We consider that neointima formation of vascular prostheses after implantation is a product of tissue engineering in vivo. Therefore, 3 essential elements for tissue engineering, i.e., cells, extracellular matrices, and cytokines, are required for neointima formation. Synthetic vascular prostheses lack one or more of these elements. In this study we demonstrated a standard healing process of fabric vascular prostheses and an antithrombogenic polymer graft using animal models. Then we showed the tissue fragment transplantation method using venous tissues, adipose tissues, and bone marrow. This method provided the 3 essential elements to the prostheses. To allow these elements to be actively engaged in neointima formation, we treated cells and tissues as clumps without enzymatic digestion. We also took advantage of the in vivo environment. With the results we demonstrate our way of thinking in relat

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.