University of Edinburgh develops 3D-printed blood vessels

Strong, flexible, gel-like tubes created using a novel 3D printing technology could improve outcomes for heart bypass patients by replacing the human and synthetic veins currently used in surgery to redirect blood flow.

A team of researchers led by the University of Edinburgh‘s School of Engineering used a two-stage process to produce these tubes. First, a rotating spindle system was integrated into a 3D printer to print tubular grafts from a water-based gel. Then, the printed graft was reinforced through a process called electrospinning, which uses high voltage to pull very thin nanofibers and coat the artificial blood vessel with biodegradable polyester molecules. Tests showed that the resulting products are just as strong as natural blood vessels.

“Our hybrid technique opens up new and exciting possibilities for the fabrication of tubular constructs in tissue engineering”, Dr Faraz FazalLead author, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh.

The flexibility of the 3D-printed grafts, which can be produced in thicknesses ranging from 1 to 40 mm in diameter, allows for easy integration into the human body. The next stage of the study involves research into the use of the blood vessels in animal trials, in collaboration with the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, followed by human trials. The research, published in Advanced Materials Technologies, was carried out in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University.

“The results from our research address a long-standing challenge in the field of vascular tissue engineering – to produce a conduit that has similar biomechanical properties to that of human veins. “With continued support and collaboration, the vision of improved treatment options for patients with cardiovascular disease could become a reality”, Dr Norbert RadacsiPrincipal investigator, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh.

This innovative technology demonstrates the potential of 3D printing in medical research and could revolutionize standards in the treatment of cardiovascular disease in the long term.