Functional stem-cell based tissue engineered vascular grafts for high-risk donor populations

    January 2015 in “ D-Scholarship@Pitt (University of Pittsburgh) ”
    Jeffrey T. Krawiec
    TLDR Diabetic patients' stem cells make vascular grafts more prone to clots, but new methods may improve grafts.
    This dissertation addressed barriers to the clinical translation of tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVG) by focusing on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (AD-MSC)-based TEVGs. It evaluated AD-MSCs from diabetics and the elderly, finding that diabetic patients produced TEVGs prone to thrombosis due to decreased fibrinolytic activity. To overcome fabrication time issues, the study used the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) as a cell source, showing similar functionality to culture-expanded AD-MSCs. Additionally, a cell-free TEVG design using "artificial stem cells" was proposed, combining stem cell secreted products with a microsphere-based delivery system. This work advanced TEVGs by exploring clinically relevant cell sources and proposing novel solutions to existing barriers.
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