Joao S. Soares, Sarah K.

Saunders, Federica Potere, Stefano Toldo, Antonio Abbate,

Engineered tissue vascular grafts: Are we there yet?,
Applications in Engineering Science,
Volume 12,
2022,
100114,
ISSN 2666-4968,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apples.2022.100114.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666496822000309)
Abstract: Over the last 20 years, a diverse number of different approaches have
been explored in trying to produce engineered tissue vascular grafts (ETVGs). If
successful, this alternative source of living vascular conduits with the ability to
grow, remodel, and self-repair could revolutionize vascular surgery by relieving
the limiting need for autologous grafts or providing substantial benefit and
improved performance over their synthetic counterparts. However, despite tissue
engineering being one of the hottest topics in biotechnology in the last three
decades, it is generally acknowledged that the field's performance and its
potential clinical translation have been somewhat disappointing. Pilot studies with
ETVGs in animal models and preclinical human trials have been encouraging, but our
understanding of the design requirements for ETVGs, how to effectively create them,
and how to direct ETVG integration once implanted must be improved. This article
reviews the current state-of-the-art of ETVGs with emphasis on the different
manufacturing approaches explored in the past and challenges encountered and
tackled, with particular focus on ETVGs that are very close to making a clinical
impact and may potentially begin a new era of therapy for vascular disease.