Hybrid scaffolds from PET and collagen as a model for vascular grafts

Author(s)

Mariana Carvalho Burrows

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2011-02-18

Examining board members

Luiz Henrique Catalani; Guilhermino José Macedo Fechine; Susana Ines Cordoba de Torresi

• Advisor: Luiz Henrique Catalani

Abstract

Scaffolds obtained by electrospinning for cellular growth are of interest for materials engineering, especially considering its structure in the form of a three-dimensional fiber mesh of nanometric diameter. This special architecture allows the generation of larger surface areas and higher porosity structures, and also important characteristics for the adhesion, proliferation and infiltration of cells into the scaffold. The use of an electrospun scaffold as a vascular graft additionally requires excellent mechanical properties, associated with a high biocompatibility level. In this study we demonstrate that these properties can be achieved by means of electrospinning of PET and collagen co-solution producing a hybrid material, considering that PET possesses excellent mechanical properties and that collagen is the principal component of the extracellular matrix. The production of electrospun scaffolds of PET/collagen is shown to be possible using HFIP and HFIP/TFA 7:2 as solvents. However, in this last one, the collagen is completely degraded during the solubilization process. If the electrospinning parameters are maintained constant, the morphology of the mesh obtained was found to be dependent on the ratio of PET/collagen (w/w), total concentration of the solution and solvent employed. Materials were obtained with unimodal and bimodal diameter distribution, as well as material in the form of ribbons and mesh between the fibers. In addition, PET and collagen form a mesh of complex composition, in which fibers composed by pure and blended materials were found. The materials PET/collagen 80:20 (S8,2) and PET/collagen 40:60 (S4,6) were characterized chemically, mechanically and biologically. It was observed that, for spincoated films, these materials present a surface energy closer to that of collagen, explaining the better cellular adhesion in S8,2 e S4,6 than for PET. S8,2 presents very similar elasticity and elongation modulus values to the femoral artery, while S4,6 is a brittle material. The cellular growth experiments using fibroblasts as a model of conjunctive tissue (3T3-L1) and endothelial cells as a model of arterial and venous tissue (HUVEC) proved the excellent adhesion and cellular proliferation on the cellular PET/collagen scaffolds. S8,2 was shown to be the best material considering HUVEC cells, while S4,6 was the best material considering 3T3-L1 cells. According to the results obtained, the use of S8,2 is proposed as a biomaterial for vascular grafts and S4,6 as a material for a coating for vascular grafts prostheses. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/07960-1 - Study of biomacromolecules immobilization onto polyester nanofiber
• Grantee: Mariana Carvalho Burrows
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master