Design and Evaluation of Simple Artificial Vascular Graft Bioreactor System

Cardiovascular diseases (CDs) are among the leading causes of death, especially in areas with limited medical resources. Due to the increasing prevalence of CDs and obesity, both of which cause blood vessel damage, there is a high demand for the use of artificial blood vessels (ABV) as an alternative treatment. A system that simulates human blood circulation is required to assess the functional performance of these vessels. Reportedly, synthetic polymers used to create artificial blood vessels have several drawbacks. In this study, we used an electrospinning technique to create an ABV from polycaprolactone (PCL), a versatile biopolymer widely used in tissue engineering (TE) applications and investigated the effects of three circulatory systems factors on these vessels using a bioreactor: temperature, flow rate, and pressure. To assess its mechanical properties, we mimicked cardiac biodynamic behavior using an Arduino Mega 2560, heat beds, peristaltic pump, temperature flow, and pressure sensor, creating a closed loop of displaying parameters and adjusting hydrodynamic performance, temperature, and flow rate. The results showed that this system accurately demonstrated the biodynamic features of the heart, making it a crucial tool for basic research and a cutting-edge model for advanced modifications.