Marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides enhance hemocompatibility and endothelialization of nanofibrous PCL for vascular graft applications

Gabriele Obino, G. Nieddu, Magdolna Nagy, Hans Ippel, Tiziana Cubeddu, Henri M.H. Spronk, Tilman M. Hackeng, Marilena Formato, Antonio Junior Lepedda, Lorenzo Moroni

Despite the growing need for small-caliber tissue-engineered vascular grafts (sTEVGs), no clinically approved substitutes exist, largely due to thrombotic failure. We recently purified a fucosylated chondroitin sulfate from two marine invertebrates, Holothuria tubulosa and Sarcotragus spinosulus, which showed strong anticoagulant activity and in vitro cytocompatibility. This study aimed to develop nanofibrous poly(Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun scaffolds functionalized with these marine polysaccharides to improve hemocompatibility and endothelialization. The functionalized scaffolds exhibited anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties and supported endothelial cell colonization. Human microvascular endothelial cells cultured on the scaffolds formed a confluent monolayer within 4 days, confirmed by vascular endothelial cadherin and von Willebrand factor expression. These results demonstrate that crosslinking PCL scaffolds with sulfated marine polysaccharides is a promising strategy for overcoming current sTEVG limitations.