Optimal Methods of Cell Seeding and Cultivation on a Poly(L-lactide) Biodegradable Scaffold

Abstract

In modern cardiovascular surgery, there remains a problem associated with a lack of venous material for bypass operations. Great interest has emerged in developing small-diameter vascular grafts ensuring stable patency. One possible solution is the creation of a tissue-engineered vascular implant (TEVI) based on a biodegradable polymer scaffold. Being structural and functional features of the scaffold, cell integration and cultivation on the scaffold are the key processes in the TEVI development. The aim of this research is to identify the optimal method of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell seeding and cultivation on the tubular biodegradable scaffold from poly(L-lactide). Results of static and dynamic cells cultivation on the scaffold after seeding with the developed filtration method were compared. The proposed method combining filtration seeding and dynamic cultivation has proved its higher efficiency and is suitable for further TEVI development.