Department of Veterinary Surgery, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, 183-8509, Tokyo, Japan.
Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, 184-8588, Tokyo, Japan.
J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2017 Nov 14;28(12):191. doi: 10.1007/s10856-017-5999-z.
Life-threatening cardiovascular anomalies require surgery for structural repair with cardiovascular patches. The biomaterial patch, derived from Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF), is used as an alternative material due to its excellent tissue affinity and biocompatibility. However, SF lacks the elastomeric characteristics required for a cardiovascular patch. In order to overcome this shortcoming, we combined the thermoplastic polyurethane, Pellethane® (PU) with SF to develop an elastic biocompatible patch. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the blended SF/PU patch in a vascular model. Additionally, we focused on the effects of different SF concentrations in the SF/PU patch on its biological and physical properties. Three patches of different compositions (SF, SF7PU3 and SF4PU6) were created using an electrospinning method. Each patch type (n = 18) was implanted into rat abdominal aorta and histopathology was assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months post-implantation. The results showed that with increasing SF content the tensile strength and elasticity decreased. Histological evaluation revealed that inflammation gradually decreased in the SF7PU3 and SF patches throughout the study period. At 6 months post-implantation, the SF7PU3 patch demonstrated progressive remodeling, including significantly higher tissue infiltration, elastogenesis and endothelialization compared with SF4PU6. In conclusion, an increase of SF concentration in the SF/PU patch had effects on vascular remodeling and physical properties. Moreover, our blended patch might be an attractive alternative material that could induce the growth of a neo-artery composed of tissue present in native artery.
危及生命的心血管异常需要进行手术，用心血管补片进行结构修复。丝素蛋白（SF）来源于家蚕，由于其良好的组织亲和性和生物相容性，被用作替代材料。然而，SF 缺乏心血管补片所需的弹性特性。为了克服这一缺点，我们将热塑性聚氨酯 Pellethane®（PU）与 SF 结合，开发出一种具有弹性的生物相容性补片。因此，本研究旨在探讨混合 SF/PU 补片在血管模型中的可行性。此外，我们还关注 SF/PU 补片中不同 SF 浓度对其生物学和物理性能的影响。采用静电纺丝法制备了三种不同组成的补片（SF、SF7PU3 和 SF4PU6）。每种补片类型（n=18）均植入大鼠腹主动脉，在植入后 1、3 和 6 个月评估组织病理学。结果表明，随着 SF 含量的增加，拉伸强度和弹性降低。组织学评估显示，SF7PU3 和 SF 补片中的炎症逐渐减少。植入后 6 个月，SF7PU3 补片显示出渐进性重塑，包括组织浸润、弹性生成和内皮化明显高于 SF4PU6。总之，SF/PU 补片中 SF 浓度的增加对血管重塑和物理性能有影响。此外，我们的混合补片可能是一种有吸引力的替代材料，可以诱导由天然动脉中存在的组织组成的新动脉生长。
