Strong, durable terminal regions that can be easily handled by researchers and surgeons are a key factor in the successful fabrication of tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBV). The goal of this study was to fabricate and characterize electrospun cuffs made of poly-caprolactone (PCL) combined with gelatin that reinforce and strengthen each end of cell-derived vascular tissue tubes. PCL is ideal for vascular tissue engineering applications due to its mechanical properties; however, PCL alone does not support cell attachment. Therefore, we introduced gelatin, a natural matrix-derived protein, into the electrospun material to promote cell adhesion. This work compared the effects of two different methods for introducing gelatin into the PCL materials: gelatin coating and gelatin co-electrospinning. Porosity, pore size, fiber diameter, and mechanical properties of the electrospun materials were measured in order to compare the features of gelatin PCL composites that have the greatest impact on cellular infiltration. Porosity was quantified by liquid intrusion, fiber diameter and pore size were measured using scanning electron microscopy, and tensile mechanical testing was used to evaluate strength, elastic modulus, and extensibility. Attachment and outgrowth of smooth muscle cells onto cuff materials was measured to evaluate differences in cellular interactions between materials by using a metabolic attachment assay and a cellular outgrowth assay. Finally, cuffs were fused with totally cell-derived TEBV and the integration of cuffs with tissue was evaluated by longitudinal pull to failure testing and histological analysis. Overall, these cuffs were shown to be able to add length and increase strength to the ends of TEBV for tube cannulation and manipulation during in vitro culture. In particular, PCL:gelatin cospun cuffs were shown to improve cellular attachment and cuff fusion compared to pure PCL cuffs, while still increasing the strength of the TEBV terminal ends.

Vascular grafts are used to repair, replace, or bypass diseased arteries, and there is a growing need for tissue-engineered blood vessels (TEBVs) as replacement grafts. Three-dimensional, self-assembled smooth muscle cell (SMC) rings can be fabricated and fused to create SMC tissue tubes with a structure similar to native vessels; however, this approach is limited by the underdeveloped mechanical integrity of the tissue. Thus, the goal of this research is to design, manufacture, and validate a cyclic circumferential stretch bioreactor to mechanically stimulate SMC tissue rings, with the goal of developing rings that can withstand the physiological forces of the in vivo environment. The bioreactor consists of a closed cam-syringe-tubing system that forces fluid into the tubing with each rotation of the cam, thereby distending and relaxing the tubing. Various sized cams were implemented to modify the distension of the tubing (5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 15% stretch magnitudes). Tissue rings are placed on the tubing, which is housed in a custom culture chamber. The tubing was validated using DVT® imaging technology to distend approximately 5, 7.5, 10, and 15% under static conditions. High density mapping was used to analyze the dynamic distension of the tubing and tissue rings. During bioreactor operation, the tubing distends 1-2% less than expected for the fabricated cams (5, 7.5, 10, 15%), and the tissue ring distends 31-56% less than the tubing on which it is located. To assess the effects of cyclic distension, 7-day-old SMC rings were cultured dynamically for 7 days and exposed to 0%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, or 15% cyclic stretch (1 Hz, 100% duty cycle). Histology and immunohistochemistry indicate that both stretched and non-stretched rings synthesized collagen and glycosaminoglycans, but the contractile proteins á-smooth muscle actin and calponin were not synthesized. A decrease in cell density was observed as the magnitude of stretch increased, and the 5-15% stretched samples demonstrated more cellular alignment than the 0% stretch control samples. Mechanical testing analysis concluded that the stretched rings exhibited a reduction in ultimate tensile strength, maximum tangent modulus, maximum strain, and maximum load compared to unstretched control samples. It is anticipated that future work, including modifications of the culture medium and mechanical stimulation parameters (eg. reduced duty cycle, reduced frequency), has the potential to achieve the expected outcome of this research - a strong, aligned, contractile vascular smooth muscle cell tissue ring through dynamic culture using a cyclic circumferential stretch bioreactor.

Every year, 400,000 coronary artery bypasses (CABG) are performed in the United States. However, one third of all patients who need a CABG cannot undergo the procedure because of the lack of suitable autologous blood vessels. Both synthetic and tissue engineered vascular grafts have been used clinically for vascular grafts or other surgical applications, but no small- diameter engineered vessels have yet been successfully used for CABG. The success of vascular tissue engineering is strongly dependent on being able to control tissue contractility and extracellular matrix (ECM) production to achieve balance between tissue strength and physiological function. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs), the main contributor of contractility in blood vessels, retain phenotypic plasticity, meaning they possess the ability to switch between a contractile and synthetic phenotype. In 2D culture, a number of biochemical and mechanical cues have been shown to promote the switch to a contractile phenotype in SMCs. However, achieving a stable contractile phenotype in 3D tissue has proven difficult. The work in this dissertation describes an investigation of how passive and dynamic environmental cues influence the smooth muscle phenotype. We studied the effects of substrate modulus in conjunction with changes in cell culture media composition on SMC phenotype in 2D and 3D cultures. Culturing SMCs in a low-serum culture medium resulted in an increase in SMC contractility in 2D cell culture but not in 3D cell-derived tissue. We found that, in SMCs cultured on soft substrates, the ability to modulate SMC phenotype in response to changes in media was diminished. Passively crosslinking the ECM of our cell-derived tissues with genipin resulted in modest increases in elastic modulus, though not enough to observe changes in SMC phenotype. Additionally, we investigated how dynamic cyclic mechanical stretch, in conjunction with cell culture medium, modified SMC contractility in cell and tissue cultures. SMCs increased contractile protein expression when exposed to dynamic stretch in 2D culture, even on soft substrates, which have previously been shown to inhibit phenotypic modulation. In 3D tissue rings, after mechanical stimulation, SMCs became more aligned, the tissue became tougher, and SMCs exhibited a measurable increase in contractile protein expression. In summary, we found that increasing substrate modulus, culturing in low serum cell culture medium, and imparting cyclic mechanical stretch can promote SMC differentiation and cellular alignment, and improve tissue mechanical properties. This information can be used to more accurately recapitulate vascular tissue for use in modeling or in the creation of tissue engineered blood vessels.

Lorsque des vaisseaux autologues ne sont pas disponibles pour faire un pontage, des greffons synthétiques sont utilisés mais avec des taux d’échec élevés. En effet, malgré leurs bonnes propriétés mécaniques, la surface synthétique de ces greffons entraîne de la thrombose et de l’hyperplasie intimale ayant pour conséquence une mauvaise perméabilité du substitut à long terme pour de nombreuses applications. Par ingénierie tissulaire, des greffons vasculaires entièrement biologiques et humains ont déjà été produits par roulage de feuillets de matrice extracellulaire synthétisée par des fibroblastes dermiques humains in vitro. Grâce à une nouvelle méthode d’assemblage basée sur une approche textile, des greffons ont été produits trois fois plus rapidement. Pour ce faire, le feuillet a été découpé en fils afin de permettre la construction d’un substitut vasculaire par tissage. Cette thèse comporte trois articles. Le premier visait à montrer la composition riche de la matrice, décrire l’organisation de son réseau complexe de collagènes et démontrer que la dévitalisation par séchage de la matrice n’a pas affecté significativement cette organisation. Le deuxième avait pour but de décrire les propriétés mécaniques des fils en fonction du torsadage et/ou de l’âge de la matrice ainsi que l’effet sur la force de différents traitements nécessaires au processus de fabrication. Les différentes applications de l’approche textile dans la construction de structures complexes ainsi que les propriétés mécaniques des substituts tissés ont également été évaluées. Le troisième article a montré la faible réponse inflammatoire ainsi que le potentiel d’intégration et de remodelage de la matrice in vivo. Par ailleurs, la décellularisation n’a pas montré de résultats supérieurs à la dévitalisation, permettant ainsi de s’affranchir d’une étape de fabrication supplémentaire et potentiellement délétère à l’organisation biologique de cette matrice. En conclusion, cette thèse constitue la première démonstration de la fabrication de textiles humains mécaniquement très forts mais sans utilisation de matériel exogène. La dévitalisation couplée à l’approche textile ont permis de créer un modèle allogénique plus simple, plus rapide et moins coûteux mais avec un potentiel d’intégration in vivo intact. Ce modèle sera très prochainement étudié par implantation à long terme dans la circulation sanguine. / When autologous blood vessels are not available for bypass surgery, synthetic grafts are used but display high failure rates. Indeed, despite their good mechanical properties, their synthetic surface lead to thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia, which cause poor long-term patency in many applications. Using tissue engineering, completely biological and human vascular grafts have been produced by rolling sheets of extracellular matrix synthesized by dermal human fibroblasts in vitro. Using a new assembly technique based on a textile approach, grafts were produced three-time faster. To do so, sheets were cut into yarns to construct vascular substitute by weaving. This manuscript includes three articles. The first one aimed at showing the rich composition of the matrix, describing the organization of its complex network of collagens and demonstrating that the devitalization by drying the matrix did not significantly affect this organization. The second one described the mechanical properties of the yarns depending on the twisting, matrix age or different treatments useful for the manufacturing process. It also demonstrated some of the assembly techniques possible with this human yarn, as well as its possible use as a suture or to build a vascular graft. The third article showed the survival of the yarns subcutaneously implanted for 6 month in nude rats. The implants created little inflammatory response, were mildly remodeled and kept a significant mechanical strength. Decellularization did not show results improvement compared to the simple devitalization, demonstrating that the remaining cellular fragments were not a meaningful activator of the innate immune system. To conclude, this thesis is the first demonstration of the production of human textiles, without using any exogenous material and that are mechanically very strong. Both the devitalization and the textile approach have allowed to create a simpler allogeneic model, faster and cheaper but with an intact potential of integration in vivo, that will be studied very soon with a long-term implantation of the textile in the bloodstream.

Biomimetic materials that recapitulate the complex mechanical and biochemical cues in load-bearing tissues are of significant interest in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications. Several investigators have endeavored to not only emulate the mechanical properties of the vasculature, but to also mimic the biologic responsiveness of the blood vessel in creating vascular substitutes. Previous studies in our lab generated the elastin-like protein polymer LysB10, which was designed with the capability of physical and chemical crosslinks, and was shown to display a range of elastomeric properties that more closely matched those of the native artery. While extensive validation of the mechanical properties of elastin-mimetic polymers has demonstrated their functionality in a number of tissue engineering applications, limited cell growth on the surfaces of the polymers has motivated further optimization for biological interaction. Recent biologically-inspired surface strategies have focused on functionalizing material surfaces with extracellular matrix molecules and bioactive motifs in order to encourage integrin-mediated cellular responses that trigger precise intracellular signaling processes, while limiting nonspecific biomaterial interactions. Consequently, this dissertation addresses three approaches to modulating cellular behavior on elastin-mimetic analogs with the goal of promoting vascular wall healing and tissue regeneration: genetic engineering of elastin-like protein polymers (ELPs) with cell-binding domains, biofunctionalization of elastin-like protein polymers via chemoselective ligation of bioactive ligands, and incorporation of matrix protein fibronectin for engineering of cell-seeded multilamellar collagen-reinforced elastin-like constructs. The synthesis of recombinant elastin-like protein polymers that integrate biologic functions of the extracellular matrix provides a novel design strategy for generating clinically durable vascular substitutes. Ultimately, the synthesis of model protein networks provides new insights into the relationship between molecular architecture, biomimetic ligand presentation, and associated cellular responses at the cell-material interface. Understanding how each of these design parameters affects cell response will contribute significantly to the rational engineering of bioactive materials. Potential applications for polymer blends with enhanced mechanical and biological properties include surface coatings on vascular grafts and stents, as well as composite materials for tissue engineered scaffolds and vascular substitutes.

This paper deals with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF) and its use in tissue engineering of vascular wall. During the work interaction of endothelial cells with the modified fibrin-based biomaterial into which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A121) has been incorporated was monitored. This modification supported the adhesion and growth of endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF-A121 is signal glycoprotein that activates transmembrane receptors on endothelial cells. VEGF-A121 is a key regulator in vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, proliferation, migration and survival of endothelial cells. In this work, this protein was heterologously expressed at a thioredoxin fusion partner in an expression system of E. coli Origami B (DE3). Recombinant VEGF-A121 was additionally coexpressed with bacterial chaperones GroEL/GroES for potential increase of its solubility and biological activity. In the next part of this work thin fibrin network was prepared by catalytic action of thrombin on the polystyrene-bound monolayer of fibrinogen. This network has been further enriched by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A121), which was covalently incorporated in it by enzyme activity of transglutaminase (factor XIIIa). The last...

Atualmente, existe uma grande necessidade médica por enxertos vasculares de pequeno calibre (< 6 mm), que possam ser utilizados em cirurgias de reconstrução vascular. Nesse trabalho, dois tipos de biomateriais vasculares foram desenvolvidos pela técnica de electrospinning: biomateriais de policaprolactona (PCL) e biomateriais de poli(carbonato de trimetileno – co – ácido lático) (PTMCLLA). Os biomateriais de PCL foram funcionalizados com heparina e com VEGF (PCL/Hep/VEGF). Os biomateriais de PTMCLLA foram desenvolvidos a partir de três razões de carbonato de trimetileno/ ácido lático: 20/80, 30/70 e 40/60. Os biomateriais de PCL apresentaram taxa de degradação lenta e alta elasticidade. A funcionalização dos biomateriais preveniu a coagulação do sangue e também favoreceu o crescimento de células-tronco mesenquimais (CTMs) e de células progenitoras endoteliais (CPEs) nessas estruturas. A análise de PCR demonstrou que o VEGF adsorvido aos biomateriais não foi suficiente para diferenciar as CTMs em células endoteliais. O cultivo das CPEs sobre os biomateriais aumentou a expressão de VE-caderina e a presença de VEGF nas estruturas manteve o nível de expressão de CD31 e CD34 nessas células. Após essas análises, os biomateriais de PCL/Hep/VEGF foram fabricados em formato tubular. As CPEs foram semeadas no lúmen do biomaterial, através de biorreatores de parede rotatória (BPR), e mantidas em cultivo, por biorreatores de perfusão (BP). O BPR favoreceu a distribuição homogênea das CPEs na parede luminal dos biomateriais enquanto que o BP estimulou seu crescimento e otimizou seu metabolismo energético. Os biomateriais produzidos a partir dos copolímeros de PTMCLLA 30/70 e 40/60 exibiram uma alta flexibilidade. Porém, os biomateriais de PTMCLLA 40/60 tiveram um grande enrugamento. Os biomateriais de PTMCLLA 30/70 suportaram a adesão e o crescimento de CTMs, de CPEs e de células musculares lisas. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo demonstram que biomateriais de PCL/Hep/VEGF apresentam características físico-químicas compatíveis para o uso vascular. Ainda, previnem a formação de trombos em sua superfície e propiciam o desenvolvimento da camada endotelial em seu lúmen. Os biomateriais de PTMCLLA 30/70 exibem alta flexibilidade e suportam o desenvolvimento de células vasculares e de células-tronco mesenquimais. De acordo com esses resultados, é possível concluir que biomateriais de PCL/Hep/VEGF e de PTMCLLA 30/70 são candidatos promissores para aplicação como enxertos vasculares. / Currently, there is a great medical need for small caliber vascular grafts (<6 mm), which can be used in vascular replacement surgeries. In this work, two types of vascular biomaterials were developed by the electrospinning technique: biomaterials of polycaprolactone (PCL) and biomaterials of poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-L-lactide) (PTMCLLA). PCL biomaterials were functionalized with heparin and VEGF (PCL / Hep/VEGF). The PTMCLLA biomaterials were developed from three ratios of trimethylene carbonate/lactide: 20/80, 30/70 and 40/60. The PCL biomaterials presented a slow degradation rate and high elasticity. The functionalization of the biomaterials prevented the blood from clotting and also favored the growth of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in these structures. PCR analysis demonstrated that VEGF adsorbed by the biomaterials was not sufficient to differentiate the MSCs into endothelial cells. The cultivation of CPEs on the biomaterials increased their expression of VE-cadherin and the presence of VEGF in the structures maintained the cell expression of CD34 and CD31. After these analyzes, the PCL/Hep/VEGF biomaterials were produced in a tubular geometrical form. The CPEs were seeded into their lumen by rotating bioreactors (RB) and maintained in culture by perfusion bioreactors (PB). The RB favored the homogeneous distribution of the CPEs in the luminal wall of the biomaterials while the BP stimulated their growth and optimized their energetic metabolism. The biomaterials produced from the PTMCLLA 30/70 and 40/60 copolymers exhibited high flexibility. However, the PTMCLLA 40/60 biomaterials exhibited substantial wrinkling. The PTMCLLA 30/70 biomaterials supported the adhesion and growth of MSCs, CPEs and smooth muscle cells. This study has demonstrated that PCL/Hep/VEGF biomaterials have physicochemical characteristics compatible with vascular use. Furthermore, they prevent thrombus formation on their surfaces and promote the development of the endothelial layer in their lumen. Biomaterials of PTMCLLA 30/70 exhibit high flexibility and support the development of vascular and mesenchymal stem cells. According to these results, it can be concluded that PCL/Hep/VEGF and PTMCLLA 30/70 biomaterials are promising candidates for use as vascular grafts.

Vascular tissue engineering (VTE) with the use of polymeric scaffolds offers the potential to generate small-diameter (<6 mm) arteries. In this thesis, a degradable polar hydrophobic ionic (D-PHI) polyurethane porous scaffold was synthesized with the objective of demonstrating its potential application for VTE. D-PHI scaffold synthesis was optimized, maximizing isocyanate and methacrylate monomer conversion. Through the incorporation of a lysine-based crosslinker, scaffold mechanical properties and swelling were manipulated. Furthermore, D-PHI scaffolds demonstrated the ability to support the growth and adhesion of A10 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during two weeks of culture. This study also investigated the effect of a double porogen approach on D-PHI scaffold properties, demonstrating an increase in the total scaffold porosity and pore interconnectivity. Specifically, it was found that the use of 10 wt% polyethylene glycol and 65 wt% sodium bicarbonate porogens resulted in a porous (79±3%) D-PHI scaffold with the mechanical properties (elastic modulus=0.16±0.03 MPa, elongation-at-yield=31±5%, and tensile strength=0.04±0.01 MPa) required to withstand the physiologically-relevant cyclic mechanical strain (CMS) that is experienced by VSMCs in vivo. Furthermore, the effects of uniaxial CMS (10% strain, 1 Hz, 4 weeks) on human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (hCASMCs), which were cultured in a porous D-PHI scaffold, were studied using a customized bioreactor. Four weeks of CMS was shown to yield greater DNA mass, more cell area coverage, a better distribution of cells within the scaffold, the maintenance of contractile protein expression and the improvement of tensile mechanical properties. The in vitro and in vivo degradation as well as the in vivo biocompatibility of D-PHI scaffolds were also investigated. Following their subcutaneous implantation in rats (100 days), porous D-PHI scaffolds demonstrated more cell/tissue infiltration within their pores and degraded in a controlled manner and at a faster rate when compared to in vitro studies (120 days), retaining the mechanical integrity required during neo-tissue formation. This thesis provides significant insight into the role of the D-PHI scaffold in combination with physiologically-relevant CMS in modulating VSMC proliferation and phenotype. The findings of this work can be used to tailor vascular tissue regeneration by regulating VSMC function in a directed manner.

Vascular tissue engineering (VTE) with the use of polymeric scaffolds offers the potential to generate small-diameter (<6 mm) arteries. In this thesis, a degradable polar hydrophobic ionic (D-PHI) polyurethane porous scaffold was synthesized with the objective of demonstrating its potential application for VTE. D-PHI scaffold synthesis was optimized, maximizing isocyanate and methacrylate monomer conversion. Through the incorporation of a lysine-based crosslinker, scaffold mechanical properties and swelling were manipulated. Furthermore, D-PHI scaffolds demonstrated the ability to support the growth and adhesion of A10 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during two weeks of culture. This study also investigated the effect of a double porogen approach on D-PHI scaffold properties, demonstrating an increase in the total scaffold porosity and pore interconnectivity. Specifically, it was found that the use of 10 wt% polyethylene glycol and 65 wt% sodium bicarbonate porogens resulted in a porous (79±3%) D-PHI scaffold with the mechanical properties (elastic modulus=0.16±0.03 MPa, elongation-at-yield=31±5%, and tensile strength=0.04±0.01 MPa) required to withstand the physiologically-relevant cyclic mechanical strain (CMS) that is experienced by VSMCs in vivo. Furthermore, the effects of uniaxial CMS (10% strain, 1 Hz, 4 weeks) on human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (hCASMCs), which were cultured in a porous D-PHI scaffold, were studied using a customized bioreactor. Four weeks of CMS was shown to yield greater DNA mass, more cell area coverage, a better distribution of cells within the scaffold, the maintenance of contractile protein expression and the improvement of tensile mechanical properties. The in vitro and in vivo degradation as well as the in vivo biocompatibility of D-PHI scaffolds were also investigated. Following their subcutaneous implantation in rats (100 days), porous D-PHI scaffolds demonstrated more cell/tissue infiltration within their pores and degraded in a controlled manner and at a faster rate when compared to in vitro studies (120 days), retaining the mechanical integrity required during neo-tissue formation. This thesis provides significant insight into the role of the D-PHI scaffold in combination with physiologically-relevant CMS in modulating VSMC proliferation and phenotype. The findings of this work can be used to tailor vascular tissue regeneration by regulating VSMC function in a directed manner.

Atualmente, existe uma grande necessidade médica por enxertos vasculares de pequeno calibre (< 6 mm), que possam ser utilizados em cirurgias de reconstrução vascular. Nesse trabalho, dois tipos de biomateriais vasculares foram desenvolvidos pela técnica de electrospinning: biomateriais de policaprolactona (PCL) e biomateriais de poli(carbonato de trimetileno – co – ácido lático) (PTMCLLA). Os biomateriais de PCL foram funcionalizados com heparina e com VEGF (PCL/Hep/VEGF). Os biomateriais de PTMCLLA foram desenvolvidos a partir de três razões de carbonato de trimetileno/ ácido lático: 20/80, 30/70 e 40/60. Os biomateriais de PCL apresentaram taxa de degradação lenta e alta elasticidade. A funcionalização dos biomateriais preveniu a coagulação do sangue e também favoreceu o crescimento de células-tronco mesenquimais (CTMs) e de células progenitoras endoteliais (CPEs) nessas estruturas. A análise de PCR demonstrou que o VEGF adsorvido aos biomateriais não foi suficiente para diferenciar as CTMs em células endoteliais. O cultivo das CPEs sobre os biomateriais aumentou a expressão de VE-caderina e a presença de VEGF nas estruturas manteve o nível de expressão de CD31 e CD34 nessas células. Após essas análises, os biomateriais de PCL/Hep/VEGF foram fabricados em formato tubular. As CPEs foram semeadas no lúmen do biomaterial, através de biorreatores de parede rotatória (BPR), e mantidas em cultivo, por biorreatores de perfusão (BP). O BPR favoreceu a distribuição homogênea das CPEs na parede luminal dos biomateriais enquanto que o BP estimulou seu crescimento e otimizou seu metabolismo energético. Os biomateriais produzidos a partir dos copolímeros de PTMCLLA 30/70 e 40/60 exibiram uma alta flexibilidade. Porém, os biomateriais de PTMCLLA 40/60 tiveram um grande enrugamento. Os biomateriais de PTMCLLA 30/70 suportaram a adesão e o crescimento de CTMs, de CPEs e de células musculares lisas. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo demonstram que biomateriais de PCL/Hep/VEGF apresentam características físico-químicas compatíveis para o uso vascular. Ainda, previnem a formação de trombos em sua superfície e propiciam o desenvolvimento da camada endotelial em seu lúmen. Os biomateriais de PTMCLLA 30/70 exibem alta flexibilidade e suportam o desenvolvimento de células vasculares e de células-tronco mesenquimais. De acordo com esses resultados, é possível concluir que biomateriais de PCL/Hep/VEGF e de PTMCLLA 30/70 são candidatos promissores para aplicação como enxertos vasculares. / Currently, there is a great medical need for small caliber vascular grafts (<6 mm), which can be used in vascular replacement surgeries. In this work, two types of vascular biomaterials were developed by the electrospinning technique: biomaterials of polycaprolactone (PCL) and biomaterials of poly(trimethylene carbonate-co-L-lactide) (PTMCLLA). PCL biomaterials were functionalized with heparin and VEGF (PCL / Hep/VEGF). The PTMCLLA biomaterials were developed from three ratios of trimethylene carbonate/lactide: 20/80, 30/70 and 40/60. The PCL biomaterials presented a slow degradation rate and high elasticity. The functionalization of the biomaterials prevented the blood from clotting and also favored the growth of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in these structures. PCR analysis demonstrated that VEGF adsorbed by the biomaterials was not sufficient to differentiate the MSCs into endothelial cells. The cultivation of CPEs on the biomaterials increased their expression of VE-cadherin and the presence of VEGF in the structures maintained the cell expression of CD34 and CD31. After these analyzes, the PCL/Hep/VEGF biomaterials were produced in a tubular geometrical form. The CPEs were seeded into their lumen by rotating bioreactors (RB) and maintained in culture by perfusion bioreactors (PB). The RB favored the homogeneous distribution of the CPEs in the luminal wall of the biomaterials while the BP stimulated their growth and optimized their energetic metabolism. The biomaterials produced from the PTMCLLA 30/70 and 40/60 copolymers exhibited high flexibility. However, the PTMCLLA 40/60 biomaterials exhibited substantial wrinkling. The PTMCLLA 30/70 biomaterials supported the adhesion and growth of MSCs, CPEs and smooth muscle cells. This study has demonstrated that PCL/Hep/VEGF biomaterials have physicochemical characteristics compatible with vascular use. Furthermore, they prevent thrombus formation on their surfaces and promote the development of the endothelial layer in their lumen. Biomaterials of PTMCLLA 30/70 exhibit high flexibility and support the development of vascular and mesenchymal stem cells. According to these results, it can be concluded that PCL/Hep/VEGF and PTMCLLA 30/70 biomaterials are promising candidates for use as vascular grafts.