Abstract 20859: A Novel Method of Rapidly Engineering Multi-Level Cell Sheet Derived Human Vessels Results in Functional and Patent Bypass Conduits

Objective: Cell-sheet derived vessels have been successfully tested as bypass grafts with proven patency and vasoreactivity in both animal models and patients. However, their construction is time consuming and limited to large diameter arteries. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a method to rapidly engineer small diameter arteries out of cell sheets and tested them in a small animal model of hind limb ischemia. Methods: Human fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells were cultured on temperature responsive dishes and lifted as confluent bi-level cell sheets. The cell sheets were wrapped around a 22.5 gauge needle and stabilized with a cyanoacrylate membrane (Fig. 1A). The conduit was perfused with human umbilical vein endothelial cells in growth medium, resulting in complete endothelialization within 7 days. We implanted the engineered vessel as a femoral artery interposition graft in nude rats (Fig. 1B) and evaluated blood flow for 6 weeks using laser doppler and transonic flowmetry. Results: Th...