Alternative Materials

 

POLYURETHANE

1. Developed by Boretos and Pierce

2. Material that offer elasticity of rubber - combination of toughness and durability

3. Advantages :

  • High tensile strength - depend on temperature
  • Compliance - complement system where a collection of proteins interact sequentially
  • Biocompatibility - blood compatibility (hemocompatibility) and tissue compatibility (histocompatibility)
  • Suturability - retain sutures well without tearing

Vascular prosthesis fabricated from polyurethane 

Scanning electron microphotograph of cross section of polyurethane

 

SEM of fibrous polyurethane vascular graft 

 

 

PDO-ELASTIN

  • New materials developed
  • Blend of polydioxanone (PDO) and elastin fibers
  • Polydioxanone is a synthetic biodegradable polymer that has been used in suture materials
  • Elastin fibers are used to enhance elasticity and bioactivity of the graft
  • Strong and bioactive - maintain and regenerate the graft
  • High mechanical strength - can hold blood pressure and forces during regeneration process

A scanning electron micrograph illustrates the structure of the tube wall. Fibers are less than 500 nm in diameter