Cell-free tissued engineered vascular grafts

A method for maintaining patency in an implanted cell-free biodegradable polymeric vascular graft comprising

• administering to a subject between three days prior to vascular graft implantation and two weeks following vascular graft implantation, a macrophage inhibitor selected from the group consisting of antibodies, antibody fragments and antibody conjugates inhibiting macrophages, bisphosphonates, and anti-folate inhibitors,
• wherein the macrophage inhibitor is in an amount effective to reduce the recruitment of host monocytes into the vascular graft and to promote attachment and proliferation of endothelial and smooth muscle cells from adjacent vessels onto the inner surface of the graft relative to an untreated control and promote neotissue formation with reduced stenosis, thrombus or aneurysm formation at the site of the implanted cell-free polymeric vascular graft, and
• wherein the polymeric vascular graft optionally includes an active agent selected from the group consisting of anti-thrombogenic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anesthetic agents, anti-coagulants, cholesterol-lowering agents, vasodilating agents, and agents which interfere with endogenous vasoactive mechanisms;
• wherein patency of said graft is increased compared to the same graft which has been seeded with cells prior to implantation.