Degradation and Healing Characteristics of Small-Diameter Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Vascular Grafts in the Rat Systemic Arterial Circulation

Abstract

Small-diameter PCL grafts represent a promising alternative for the future because of their better healing characteristics compared with ePTFE grafts. Faster endothelialization and extracellular matrix formation, accompanied by degradation of graft fibers, seem to be the major advantages. Further evaluation of degradation and graft healing characteristics may potentially lead to the clinical use of such grafts for revascularization procedures.