# Preclinical Assessment of a Compliance Matched Biopolymer Vascular Graft

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $676,726

## Abstract

Project Summary
There are approximately 250,000 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures performed annually to treat
coronary heart disease (CHD) with graft failure rates reported to be as high as 42.8%. A major cause of graft
failure in CABG has been attributed to graft compliance mismatch leading to subsequent intimal hyperplasia
and graft thrombosis. The development of a compliance matched functional small diameter vascular graft will
therefore significantly improve the treatment of those with CHD. Tissue engineering has shown promise in
achieving some but not all of the required characteristics for a functional tissue engineered vascular graft
(TEVG). A particularly challenging aspect in the development of a functional TEVG is the design of a fully
biodegradable biopolymer graft that can be tuned to a desired compliance pre-implantation and subsequently
maintain its compliance as it degrades and remodels in-vivo. As such there is a critical need to develop a
compliance matched TEVG that remains compliance matched throughout the host remodeling process while
also maintaining a functional endothelium. To meet this need we will develop and functionally assess a
tropoelastin layered and endothelialized TEVG that is and remains compliance matched. We will utilize
computational simulation to optimize the compliance of a biodegradable gelatin/tropoelastin layered TEVG that
elutes TGFb2 in a controlled manner to promote early cell infiltration and late matrix deposition in our graft,
thus stabilizing its compliance as our graft degrades. The overall working hypothesis of our research is that the
intravital (in-vitro and in-vivo) compliance of our graft can be maintained by temporally controlling TGFb2
elution from a computationally optimized TEVG. We will test this hypothesis by completing the following
Specific Aims. Aim 1 of our research project will assess if compliance and TGFb2 elution can maintain the
compliance of our TEVG in-vivo using a rat aortic interpositional implantation model. Aim 2 of our proposed
work will assess the function of our TEVG in a preclinical large animal (sheep carotid) implantation model. The
proposed studies will establish a novel pre- and post-implantation compliance controlled fully biodegradable
biopolymer TEVG with excellent patency, anti-thrombogenicity, vasoreactivity, and functional performance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10744225
- **Project number:** 5R01HL157017-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonathan Pieter Vande Geest
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $676,726
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-12-15 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10744225

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10744225, Preclinical Assessment of a Compliance Matched Biopolymer Vascular Graft (5R01HL157017-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10744225. Licensed CC0.

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