Small‐Diameter PLCL/PCL Nanofiber Grafted TSF Vascular Scaffolds with a Double‐Layer Structure for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Abstract Successful construction of small‐diameter double‐layer vascular scaffolds (SDVSs) whose inner diameters are less than 1.5 mm, especially those with multilayer mimic structures, remains a challenge in vascular tissue engineering. In this study, poly( L ‐lactide‐ co ‐caprolactone) (PLCL)/poly(Ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL)/tussah silk fibroin (TSF) SDVSs with a double‐layer structure are prepared by one‐step method based on friction twisting core‐spun electrospinning technology. The constructed PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF have an obvious double‐layer structure; tube wall thickness 524 ± 28 µm; and inner tube diameter 1390 ± 40 µm. Compared with traditional nanofiber vascular scaffolds (TS), the axial and radial tensile strengths of PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF increase by 86% and 34%, respectively. They also show good scaffold elastic recovery and burst pressure (BP) (8505 ± 875 mmHg). Compared with the PLCL/PCL SDVSs, the inner and outer layers of PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF show good hydrophilicity and protein adsorption performance. The in vitro cell viability results indicate that the inner and outer layers of PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF show enhanced proliferation and adhesion of vein endothelial cells (VECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), respectively. Therefore, the successful preparation of PLCL/PCL SDVSs grafted TSF provides more possibilities for the clinical transplantation of small‐diameter vascular scaffolds.