Altered processing enhances the efficacy of small-diameter silk fibroin vascular grafts.

摘要: Current synthetic vascular grafts are not suitable for use in low-diameter applications. Silk fibroin is a promising natural graft material which may be an effective alternative. In this study, we compared two electrospun silk with different manufacturing processes, using either water or hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as solvent. This resulted markedly Young's modulus, ultimate tensile strength and burst pressure, HFIP spun observed to have thicker fibres, greater stiffness relative spun. Assessment rat abdominal aorta grafting model showed significantly faster endothelialisation of the Neointimal hyperplasia also stabilised earlier, correlated earlier SMC phenotype switch from contractile, increasing extracellular matrix protein density. An initial examination macrophage response that conduits promoted anti-inflammatory M2 at early timepoints while reducing pro-inflammatory M1 grafts. These observations demonstrate important role process physical properties determining physiological response. Our study first comprehensively these differences long-term rodent model.