Abstract
Small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) are urgently required for clinical applications. Constructing vascular grafts mimicking the defining features of native arteries is a promising strategy. Here, we constructed a tri-layered vascular graft with a native artery decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) mimicking the component of arteries. The porcine thoracic aorta was decellularized and milled into dECM powders from the differential layers. The intima and media dECM powders were blended with poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) as the inner and middle layers of electrospun vascular grafts, respectively. Pure PLCL was electrospun as a strengthening sheath for the outer layer. Salidroside was loaded into the inner layer of vascular grafts to inhibit thrombus formation. In vitro studies demonstrated that dECM provided a bioactive milieu for human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) extension adhesion, proliferation, migration, and tube-forming. The in vivo studies showed that the addition of dECM could promote endothelialization, smooth muscle regeneration, and extracellular matrix deposition. The salidroside could inhibit thrombosis. Our study mimicked the component of the native artery and combined it with the advantages of synthetic polymer and dECM which provided a promising strategy for the design and construction of SDVGs.