Nano-Fibrous and Tubular Poly (lactic acid) Scaffolds for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Abstract

In recent years, the adaptation of tissue engineering techniques is necessary to progress the field of cardio-vascular bio-logy and advancing patient care. Through the high event of cardio-vascular disease and increasing amount of patients needing vascular admission, there is a considerable require for small-diameter (<6mm inner diameter) vascular graft that can supply long-period patency. Vascular tissue engineering is a novel field that has undergone massive growth more than the final decade and has suggested suitable keys for blood-vessels darn. The objective of vascular tissue engineering is to manufacture neovessels and neo-organ tissue from autologous cells by means of a bio-degradable polymer like Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) as a scaffold. PLA Nano-fibrous scaffolds have high surface area–to-volume ratios and porosity that simulate the structure of protein fibers in native extra cellular matrix (ECM). The versatilities of polymer components, fiber structures, and functionalization have made the fabrication of PLA Nano-fibrous scaffolds with suitable mechanical strength, transparency and biological properties for vascular tissue engineering feasible. The most significant benefit of tissue engineered implants is that these tissues can grow, remodel, rebuild, and respond to damage. This review explains the fabrication, properties and advantages of different types of PLA scaffolds with emphasis on Nano-fibrous ones for vascular tissue engineering. © Nanomedicine Research Journal. All rights reserved.