3D printing of nitric oxide donor hydrogel vascular prostheses

Abstract

3D printing of hydrogels for biomedical applications has been the focus of growing scientific interest, due to the similarities of hydrogels with living tissues and the possibility of printing customized prostheses. The main objective of this project is to develop nitric oxide (NO) donor hydrogels coated with polydopamine (PDA) for the construction of tubular vascular prostheses by 3D printing through coaxial extrusion on support gel (FRESH method). The hydrogels will be composed by the triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO - F127), chemically modified with terminal methacrylate groups (F127-DMA) for photocrosslinking. The 3D printing resins will be characterized by rheology and the printed prostheses will be characterized by swelling tests, mechanical compression tests and scanning electron microscopy. The printed vascular prostheses will be coated with PDA for improved haemocompatibility and the wettability of their luminal surfaces will be evaluated by contact angle measurements. The printed prostheses will be loaded with S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) as NO donor agent, to obtain localized pro-vascular biological actions. The kinetics of real-time NO release in physiological fluid will be characterized in static and flowing conditions by chemiluminescence. Biological tests will be performed to characterize the adhesion of endothelial cells on the surface of the prostheses. (AU)