Small calibre biosynthetic bacterial cellulose blood vessels: 13-months patency in a sheep model.
Journal article, 2012

Abstract Objectives. Many patients in need of bypass surgery lack graft material and current synthetic alternatives have poor performance. A 4 mm vascular graft composed of bacterial cellulose (BC) was developed and tested in pilot study in a large animal model. Design. BC is a biopolymer made by the bacteria acetobacter xylinum. BC grafts (n = 16) with 4 cm length and 4 mm internal diameter were implanted bilaterally in the carotid arteries of eight sheep. No long-term antithrombotic therapy was administered. Patency was assessed with ultrasound. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy were performed after explantation. Results. Fifty percent of the grafts occluded within two weeks. One animal died with patent grafts after 14 days. In the three remaining animals 5/6 grafts were patent after nine months. Two animals were followed 13 months after implantation with 3/4 grafts patent at explantation. All patent grafts had confluent endothelial-like cells. Conclusions. Biosynthetic small calibre vascular grafts made from BC can be patent for up to 13 months in sheep carotid arteries. BC is a potential material for small calibre grafts but patency in animal models needs to be improved before clinical studies can be planned.

bacterial cellulose

patency

graft

Author

Carl Johan Malm

University of Gothenburg

Bo Risberg

University of Gothenburg

Aase Katarina Bodin

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology

Henrik Bäckdahl

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology

Bengt R Johansson

University of Gothenburg

Paul Gatenholm

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology

Anders Jeppsson

University of Gothenburg

Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal

1401-7431 (ISSN) 1651-2006 (eISSN)

Vol. 46 1 57-62

Subject Categories

Surgery

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES

DOI

10.3109/14017431.2011.623788

PubMed

22029845

More information

Created

10/7/2017