Electrospun tubular scaffolds: on the effectiveness of blending poly(ε-caprolactone) with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate).

Tissue engineering can effectively contribute to the development of novel vascular prostheses aimed to overcome the well-known drawbacks of small-diameter grafts. To date, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), a bioresorbable synthetic poly(α-hydroxyester), is considered one of the most promising materials for vascular tissue engineering. In this work, the potential advantage of intimate blending soft PCL and hard poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), a polymer of microbial origin, has been evaluated. Nonwoven mats and small-diameter tubular scaffolds of PCL, PHBV, and PCL/PHBV were fabricated by means of electrospinning technique. Mechanical properties and suture retention strength were investigated according to the international standard for cardiovascular implants. Biological tests demonstrated that both PCL-based scaffolds supported survival and growth of rat cerebral endothelial cells in a short time. The fiber alignment of the electrospun tubular scaffolds contributed to a more rapid and homogeneous cell colonization of the luminal surface.