Biomechanically defined absorbable materials for cardiovascular surgery

Grant No.: NU20-02-00368	Grant Agency: Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic
Resolved in: 2020 - 2023
Description: Many current vascular surgery procedures such as the palliative treatment of congenital heart diseases, the wrapping of aneurysms, arterialized vein grafts or endoleak prevention are based on the mechanical interaction of the arterial wall and external reinforcement. This project concerns the development of a composite material consisting of copolymers of poly-L-lactate (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers combined with a collagen matrix in for use in resorbable arterial bands which will enable a reduction in arterial blood flow and arterial wall protection against pathological changes and rupture. The structural, degradation and mechanical characteristics of the PCL/PLA collagen composite will be determined in a simulated body environment and after sterilization. The biocompatibility will be verified on cell cultures and in the rat peritoneum. Biomechanical and degradation properties and material-artery biological interactions will be analyzed in a rabbit model. Proof of the arterial bands function will provided via pulmonary artery and abdominal aorta bandin´g using a piglet model.