Tissue engineered blood vessels

Abstract

Compositions and methods of using tissue engineered blood vessels to repair and regenerate blood vessels of patients with vascular disease are disclosed.

1 . A tubular construct for a tissue engineered blood vessel comprising a scaffold comprising poly(p-dioxanone) and one or more or of cells, cell sheets, cell lysate and minced tissue. 
     
     
         2 . The tubular construct of  claim 1  wherein the scaffold further comprises collagen. 
     
     
         3 . The tubular construct of  claim 1  wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibrobasts, human umbilical cord derived cells and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A method of making a tissue engineered blood vessel comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a tubular shaped scaffold comprising poly(p-dioxanone);   b. Seeding said scaffold with one or more cells selected from the group consisting of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts and human umbilical cord-derived cells; and   c. Culturing the cell seeded scaffold in a bioreactor.   
     
     
         5 . A method of making a tissue engineered blood vessel comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a tubular shaped scaffold comprising poly(p-dioxanone);   b. Wrapping said scaffold with a human umbilical cord-derived cell sheet; and   c. Culturing the cell sheet wrapped scaffold in a bioreactor.   
     
     
         6 . A method of making a tissue engineered blood vessel comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a tubular shaped scaffold comprising poly(p-dioxanone);   b. Applying said scaffold with minced muscle tissue and minced endothelial tissue; and   c. Culturing the minced tissue scaffold in a bioreactor.   
     
     
         7 . A method of making a tissue engineered blood vessel comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a tubular shaped scaffold comprising poly(p-dioxanone);   b. Applying said scaffold with cell lysate; and then   c. Lyophilizing the scaffold.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of:
 a. applying one or more of cells and minced tissue to the cell lysate scaffold; and   b. culturing the cell lysate scaffold having one or more of cells and minced tissue in a bioreactor.   
     
     
         9 . A method of making a tissue engineered blood vessel comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a scaffold comprising poly(p-dioxanone);   b. Seeding said scaffold sheet with cells;   c. Rolling said seeded sheet into a tube; and   d. Culturing the tube in a bioreactor.