Nanofibrous tubular scaffolds for tissue engineering of small-diameter vascular grafts — development using SBS fabrication technique and mechanical performance

Purpose Small diameter vascular grafts (sdVG) are a recurring theme of research in the repair of blood vessels. There are limited autogenous substituents and synthetics grafts without recurrence of failure, in addition to the need for grafts to attend the growth of pediatric patients without the need for surgery to re-exchange the grafts. This study proposes the use of solution blow spinning (SBS) by airbrushing as a method for the production of nanofibrous tubular scaffolds for use in tissue engineering techniques of small diameter vascular grafts (sdTEVG). Methods Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibrous tubular scaffolds were manufactured by an airbrushing technique using a rotary collector with 200 and 750 rpm. The scaffold samples were submitted to morphological and mechanical characterizations in view to evaluate its performance as sdTEVG. Results The nanofibrous tubular scaffolds showed a fiber diameter and porosity around 200 nm and 91%, respectively. The values of the circumferential elastic modulus and peak stress of these scaffolds were similar to those of natural blood vessels. Scaffolds obtained with both 200 and 750 rpm showed satisfactory properties of compliance (3.54 ± 1.55 and 12.47 ± 2.78%/100 mmHg) and burst pressure value of (2961.5 ± 629.8 and 3483.9 ± 358.5 mmHg). Conclusion Nanofiber tubular scaffolds were obtained that have the potential to be used as sdTEVG, thus demonstrating the potential of airbrushing as a production method. The performance of the two tubular scaffolds, obtained at 200 rpm showed similar behavior to the human saphenous vein, but that one obtained at 750 rpm, presented a behavior similar to the healthy human coronary artery and internal mammary artery.