Abstract
Improving elastic matrix generation is critical to developing functional tissue engineered vascular grafts. Therefore, this study pursued a strategy to grow autologous tissue in vivo by recruiting potentially more elastogenic cells to conduits implanted within the peritoneal cavity. The goal was to determine the impacts of electrospun conduit composition and hyaluronan oligomer (HA-o) modification on the recruitment of peritoneal cells, and their phenotype and ability to synthesize elastic matrix. These responses were assessed as a function of conduit intra-peritoneal implantation time. This study showed that the blending of collagen with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) promotes a faster wound healing response, as assessed by trends in expression of macrophage and smooth muscle cell (SMC) contractile markers and in matrix deposition, compared to the more chronic response for PCL alone. This result, along with the increase in elastic matrix production, demonstrates the benefits of incorporating as little as 25% w/w collagen into the conduit. In addition, PCR analysis demonstrated the challenges in differentiating between a myofibroblast and an SMC using traditional phenotypic markers. Finally, the impact of the tethered HA-o is limited within the inflammatory environment, unlike the significant response found previously in vitro. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the importance of both careful control of implanted scaffold composition and the development of appropriate delivery methods for HA-o.