B. C. Wengerter1, G. Emre1, P. J. Geibel1, H. Bai1, A. Dardik1, J. P. Geibel1 1Yale University School Of Medicine,Surgery,New Haven, CT, USA
Introduction:
Cardiovascular disease carries a significant morbidity and mortality burden in the United States. Surgical options for vascular grafts have traditionally included autologous vein or synthetic graft material. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting provides a promising alternative when the aforementioned materials fail or are unavailable.
Methods:
Rat fibroblast and smooth muscle cells were encapsulated in a gelatin and hyaluronic acid hydrogel to create bioink, which was then used to print a 280 mm2 cellular sheet via a novel three-dimensional printing technique. Printed structures were allowed to mature for a period of seven days, after which they were fashioned into vascular angioplasty patches for repair of inferior vena cava venotomy in male Wister rats. The rats were sacrificed seven days post-implantation, and the implants with surrounding inferior vena cava were excised and analyzed by histology and immunohistochemical staining.
Results:
The rats thrived for seven days post-implantation, with normal fluid intake and weight gain. The patched inferior venae cavae showed no gross evidence of hemorrhage or thrombosis at time of excision. Patches were well incorporated into the host vessels and demonstrated an organizing structure consistent with their early post-implantation state. Neointima formation was evident by von Willebrand factor staining, and staining for lymphocytes and macrophages demonstrated only a mild inflammatory reaction.
Conclusion:A 3D-printed biologic graft survives early implantation for inferior vena cava patch angioplasty without any evidence of thrombosis, hemorrhage or immediate immunologic rejection. It may provide a viable alternative both for patching and for larger-scale reconstruction.