Development of the biodegradable graft for cardiovascular surgery with function of local release of growth factors and cytokines

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Objective: Biodegradable grafts for cardiovascular surgery have been developed to overcome shortcomings of current nonbiodegradable synthetic grafts. Recently, bone marrow cells (BMCs) have been seeded into the graft to regenerate the autologous vascular wall. However, some growth factors and angiogenic cytokines, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), have not been used in regeneration of the vascular wall. In the present study, we tried to develop a new biodegradable synthetic graft to release bFGF in vivo, and investigated the efficacy of local release of bFGF combined with BMC seeding for creating vascular wall tissue under low-pressure systems such as the pulmonary artery or vena cava.Methods: Biodegradable patches were used to repair transmural defects created surgically in the right ventricular outflow tract of adult rat hearts. Histologic assessments were performed at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation.Results: Endothelialization on the endocardial surface of the patch occurred 2 weeks after implantation. Neovascularization of the implanted graft impregnated with bFGF was prominent in the gelatin-blended graft compared with the standard graft. In the gelatin-blended graft, BMC seeding promoted neovascularization, and administration of bFGF combined with BMC seeding further enhanced neovascularization. Administration of bFGF accelerated the elastin accumulation 4 weeks after implantation.Conclusions: The gelatin-blended biodegradable graft led to local release of bFGF, and administration of bFGF combined with BMC seeding was effective in promoting neovascularization in the graft. This tissue-engineered vascular graft may be a promising material for cardiovascular surgery that could lead to the regeneration of autologous venous wall tissue.