There is an acute clinical need for small-diameter vascular grafts as a treatment option for cardiovascular disease. Here, we used an intelligent design system to recreate the natural structure and hemodynamics of small arteries. Nano-fibrous tubular scaffolds were fabricated from blends of polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin with inner helices to allow a near physiological spiral flow profile, using the electrospinning technique. Human coronary artery endothelial cells (ECs) were seeded on the inner surface and their viability, distribution, gene expression of mechanosensitive and adhesion molecules compared to that in conventional scaffolds, under static and flow conditions. We show significant improvement in cell distribution in helical vs. conventional scaffolds (94% ± 9% vs. 82% ± 7.2%; P < 0.05) with improved responsiveness to shear stress and better ability to withhold physiological pressures. Our helical vascular scaffold provides an improved niche for EC growth and may be attractive as a potential small diameter vascular graft.

迫切需要小直径的血管移植物作为心血管疾病的治疗选择。在这里，我们使用了智能设计系统来重现小动脉的自然结构和血液动力学。纳米纤维管状支架是使用静电纺丝技术由聚乙烯醇和明胶与内部螺旋的混合物制成的，以允许接近生理的螺旋流动分布。将人冠状动脉内皮细胞（ECs）植入内表面，并在静态和流动条件下，与常规支架相比，它们的存活力，分布，机械敏感分子和粘附分子的基因表达。我们显示，与常规支架相比，螺旋支架的细胞分布有显着改善（94％±9％vs. 82％±7.2％；P <0.05），对剪应力的响应性得到改善，并且具有更好的抵御生理压力的能力。我们的螺旋血管支架为EC的生长提供了改善的利基，并且作为潜在的小直径血管移植物可能具有吸引力。