Table 2 The advantages and disadvantages of various fabrication methods used for SDVGs
From: Challenges and advances in materials and fabrication technologies of small-diameter vascular grafts
Scaffold Fabrication Method | Advantage | Disadvantage | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
Electrospinning | – Mimic similar fibrous architecture of native extracellular matrix structure with high porosity to provide excellent biocompatibility including cell adhesion and proliferation – Increase mechanical properties – Fabricate multilayer grafts | – Use toxic solvent and high voltage – Unable to fabricate complex structures – Coaxial electrospinning cause interface effects | |
Molding | – Easy to setup – Fabricate multilayer grafts – Fabricate various geometries and dimensions with micropatterned surfaces – Control porosity and pore size by tuning the processing parameters | – Use toxic solvent – Need for mechanical reinforcement | |
3D bioprinting | – Automatic process with good controllability, reproducibility, and repeatability, including pore structures of vascular grafts – Incorporation of cells spatially | – Limited materials – Slow to fabricate mass customization – Need for post-processing – Unable to fully mimic the complex structure and function of natural vasculature | |
Cell sheet engineering | – Reduce immune response after implantation by using autologous cells – Biologically mimic native extracellular matrix | – Unable to use readily due to production time – Potential for delamination failure | |
Decellularization | – Preservation of the extracellular matrix – Favorable mechanical properties | – Unable to use readily due to production time – Potential for immune responses – Difficulty in precise recellularization – High cost – Low cellularity upon implantation – Donor tissue loss if an autologous graft is used | |
Coculture of cells | – Mimic the cellular environment in the body including cell–cell interactions and cell-culture interactions – Induce cell differentiation to improve the speed of vascularization | – Difficulty in precise control over cell–cell interactions and separation for implantation |