Tissue Engineering of Small Caliber Vessel Grafts from Human Umbilical Veins

Abstract

Human umbilical veins (HUV) have recently been suggested as a starting material for vascular tissue engineering. HUV possess a functional smooth muscle layer and could be turned into an immunologically inert graft with contractile properties by creating a neoendothelium from the recipient's own cells. This study investigated methods to remove the native endothelium without impairing the contractile function of the smooth muscle layer. These denuded HUV were then seeded with endothelial cells in a perfusion bioreactor, demonstrating the creation of a confluent, shear-resistant neoendothelium.