Scientists have developed a small-bore artificial blood vessel with dual anticoagulant effects

On August 29, the reporter learned from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that researchers at the institute had developed a small-caliber artificial blood vessel with dual effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet. The small-caliber artificial blood vessel can not only prevent the occurrence of acute thrombosis, but also promote the adhesion and proliferation of endothelial cells, and promote tissue regeneration. Relevant research results were published online in the International Journal of Biomacromolecules.

"At present, commercial large-diameter artificial blood vessels represented by polyester, polyurethane, and polytetrafluoroethylene have been widely used in aortic replacement, and the long-term patency effect is good." Li Lei, co-corresponding author of the paper and associate researcher at the Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said , but when these materials are applied to small-bore vessels with a diameter of less than 6 mm, graft failure often occurs due to acute thrombosis.

Heparin has a strong anticoagulant effect and is often used as a functional molecule for graft modification, but it cannot directly resist the adhesion and aggregation of platelets. Therefore, the researchers compounded heparin and the antiplatelet drug aspirin, and grafted the compound onto the surface of the polycaprolactone/polyurethane composite tube to prepare a new type of small-caliber artificial blood vessel.

Since then, the researchers have carried out a rabbit carotid artery implantation test on the new small-caliber artificial blood vessel. The results of the study show that the small-caliber artificial blood vessel can effectively prevent acute thrombosis after implantation, and can maintain complete patency within one month. More importantly, the postoperative pathological results showed that there was no accumulation of red blood cell clusters and thrombus formation at the anastomosis of the graft, no stenosis and blockage in the vascular lumen, and the intimal layer gradually regenerated.