Vascular constructs
AssigneeWake Forest University Health Sciences
InventorsSang Jin Lee, James J. Yoo, Young Min Ju, Anthony Atala
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Abstract
The invention is directed to products and methods for preparing self-seeding vascular constructs generated as a bi-layered electrospun matrices, conjugated with EPC-specific antibodies and anti-thrombogenic agents on the inner surfaces of their lumens.
Claims36
A self-seeding vascular graft comprising an electrospun matrix having a hollow tubular shape with an outside surface and a lumen that is defined by an inside surface, the matrix having a three-dimensional ultrastructure of interconnected fibers, the fibers having an average diameter between 100 nanometer and 5 micrometers and wherein at least two different endothelial cell or endothelial progenitor cell (EC/EPC) specific antibodies are conjugated to the inner surface of the matrix.
A method of preparing a vascular construct by an electrospinning process, the method comprising:
- electrically charging a solution of a matrix material;
- discharging the electrically charged solution onto a grounded target under an electrostatic field to produce fibers of the matrix on the grounded target, wherein the matrix has a tubular shape with an outside surface and a lumen that defines an inside surface and a three-dimensional ultrastructure of interconnected fibers with pores to permit cell attachment;
- manipulating the electrospinning process parameters to vary the porosity of the matrix to form multiple layers having different porosities such that the tubular matrix comprises an inner region, in which the average pore size is less than 1 micron, and an outer region, in which the average pore size is greater than 1 micron;
- and
- conjugating at least two different EC/EPC-specific antibodies to the inner surface of the matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.