Fabrication and Characterization of Polymeric Vascular Grafts

Polymeric substances are ideal for the fabrication of synthetic vascular grafts due to their functionality and anatomic safety. The research presented in this study investigates the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and applies these properties to the design of a polymeric vascular graft to be used in a surgical procedure that bypasses arteries blocked by deposits of fat and cholesterol. Extrusion of PLA fibers, X-ray diffraction, and tensile strength testing established the impact of processing methods including extrusion temperature, spooling speed, annealing, and stretching on the structural and mechanical properties of PLA. Based on these trials, it was determined that thin fibers extruded at high temperatures and spooling speeds would be ideal for producing a flexible vascular graft. Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs were used to design a 3D-printable vascular graft made of both PLA and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).