Blood vessel prosthesis using dip-coated polycaprolactone

• Main Author: Lim, Jia Hao
• Other Authors: Subramanian Venkatraman
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/55685
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Developments in the field of tissue engineering have opened new possibilities to develop more suitable biomaterials that are applicable to cardiovascular medical devices, including small diameter vascular grafts. Synthetic grafts that were widely used clinically were made from PTFE or PET but they do not promote tissue growth and hence faced biological complications such as thrombosis especially in vascular conduits of small diameter. Biodegradable and bioresorbable polymers have been developed recently and are commercially available with their properties easily tailored using copolymerization. In a project done previously, the team modified the surface of polycaprolactone (PCL) to promote cell proliferation. Building on that, this project investigates the potential of using PCL in fabricating vascular prosthesis. The copolymerized poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) which displays better mechanical and elastomeric properties will also be compared in this project. Tubular scaffolds were made using the dip-coating mandrels into polymer solution. The dip-coating method was fine-tuned and different compositions of PCL and PLC blends were investigated to obtain an optimum composition that is able to display properties required for the prosthesis. The scaffolds were then tested with accordance to international standards ISO 7198 and the results were compared. The biocompatibility of the scaffolds will also be tested with culture of HUVEC cells. This study will be useful to determine the viability of PCL and PLC in tissue engineered vascular grafts applications.