PTFE Electrospun Stent Graft—Preparation, Properties and Its Industrialization Prospect

Stent graft(SG), isolating the diseased vessels from the normal blood circulation and preventing the rupture of the aneurysm wall in minimally invasive surgery, is normally composed of a metallic stent and a cover with a textile structure. In this study, the electrospinning method was used to prepare a new type of cover, and the preparing conditions and the performance of the SG were investigated. The polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) and polyethylene oxide(PEO) were blended at the ratios of 99:1, 98:2, 97:3 and electrospun to form precursor membranes. Then they were dried in a vacuum and sintered at different temperatures under different time periods to obtain PTFE membrane, which was compounded with a stent. Their morphology, mechanical properties, water permeability and biological properties were studied. The results showed that when the membrane was sintered at 380 °C for 10 min, it had the best tensile properties. The integral water permeability of the PTFE electrospun SG was close to 0. The hemolysis rate of the SG was 2.84%, and human umbillical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) can adhere and proliferate well on the surface of the PTFE membranes. The PTFE electrospun SG had great potential for clinical application and industrialization.