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K. Ehrmann, C. Grasl, H. Bergmeister, H. Schima, B. Podesser, R. Liska, S. Baudis:
"From Building Blocks to a Biodegradable & Stable Vascular Graft";
Vortrag: 43. Seminar der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Chirurgische Forschung, Wien; 14.11.2019 - 16.11.2019.

From basic building blocks towards biodegradable and stable vascular prostheses

BACKGROUND: The benefit of utilizing biodegradable materials in combination with the regenerative abilities of the human body for the design of a new generation of vascular prostheses is commonly acknowledged. (1) However, availability of biodegradable and mechanically reliable materials for surgeons is still mainly restricted to a few commercially available options. (2) This research focuses on the development, processing, and testing of novel synthetic materials at the interface of surgical and biological requirements concerning vascular prostheses.
MATERIAL/METHODS: Novel thermoplastic polyurethanes with hydrolysis-prone points of scission were designed, synthesized, and processed. The mechanical properties of the electrospun grafts and the ability of these materials to degrade biologically was tested in vitro and in vivo.
RESULTS: Two novel generations of small-diameter, artificial vascular prostheses were developed from thermoplastic polyurethanes. (3, 4) The design especially focuses on the balance of mechanical integrity of the prostheses and their ability to degrade. First in vivo rat aorta models show the feasibility of this approach for future developments. (5, 6)
CONCLUSION: The development of novel biocompatible, biodegradable materials and their processing into stable vascular prosthesis is the first step towards the long term goal of creating off-the-shelf grafts with small lumina.
KEYWORDS: vascular tissue engineering, biodegradable polymers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, electrospinning

biodegradable materials, new generation of vascular prostheses, novel synthetic materials, thermoplastic polyurethanes