골수줄기세포가 배양된 생분해성 매트릭스를 이용한 소구경 인공혈관 개발

Although Dacron and ePTFE have most widely been used for artificial vascular grafts, these materials cannot be used for small-diameter grafts (l.D.<6mm) due to thrombotic occlusion. To overcome this limitation, a small-diameter vascular graft was developed with stem cell and tissue engineering method. Autologous bone marrow stem cells were cultured and seeded onto small-diameter (4mm) collagen tubular matrices. The matrices were anastomosed to carotid arteries in canine models. Prior to implantation, histological and electron microscopical examination revealed stem cell adhesion and growth on the matrices. Angiography indicated that the vascular grafts maintained patent for 8 weeks. Histological examination showed the regeneration of endothelium, media and adventitia in the grafts. This study may allow us to step forward to the development of tissue-engineered small-diameter vascular graft appropriate for clinical applications.