Fabrication and characterization of novel compliant small-diameter PET/PU/PCL triad-hybrid vascular graft.

Nanomaterial structures are highly contributive in TEVS due to their ability to mimic the nano-scale dimension of the natural extra-cellular matrix (ECM) and the existing mechanical match between the native blood vessel and the scaffold as a vascular graft. The aim of this study was developing and mechanically improving of the nano-fibrous triad-hybrid scaffolds with different composite ratios of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PU) and polycaprolactone (PCL). The morphological, biological, mechanical and, biomechanical properties of the neat and hybrid structures were examined using SEM, DSC, FTIR, Tensile, Compliance, Burst pressure, MTT assay and, implanted the specimens under rat skin to explore the immune system in vivo. Results showed that the fiber diameter and porosity changes in the triad-hybrid electrospun scaffold ranged within 388 ± 88 to 547 ± 89 nm and 56.60 ± 2.06 % to 75.00 ± 1.94 %, respectively. In addition, the change's range of the tensile and force in the scaffolds were within 2.7 ± 0.44 to 5.27± 0.83 MPa and 2.68 ±0.19 to 10.03± 0.75 MPa, respectively. Also, the compliance and burst pressure of the structures were reported 4.05 ± 0.21 to 7.09 ± 0.49 and 1623 ± 329 to 2560 ± 121 mmHg, respectively. According to the MTT assay, high cell viability was observed on the triad-hybrid structures with a high percentage of PET when compared to that of PU. Findings of this research demonstrate that PET/PU/PCL triad-hybrid vascular scaffold has enough potential to be used in vascular tissue engineering application.