Preparation of small-diameter collagen-polylactic acid artificial blood vessel by electrospinning

The small diameter artificial blood vessel(d=3.0 mm) of polylactide acid and collagen (Col-PLA)was prepared by electrospinning in this paper. The fiber morphology on the surface, pore size and tensile property of Col-PLA artificial blood vessel were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, pore size analyzer and tensile testing machine, respectively. The wall thickness and burst strength were also measured. The influence of spinning voltage, spinning solution mass fraction and mass ratio of PLA to Col on the structure and properties of artificial blood vessel were investigated. The results show that the fiber array is changed into regular with the increasing of the spinning voltage, and the optimal spinning voltage is between 15-20 kV. The fiber diameter and the mechanical properties of artificial blood vessel increase with the increasing of the spinning solution mass fraction, while the porosity and pore size decrease. As mass ratio of PLA to Col increase, the inner layer thickness of Col-PLA artificial blood vessel decrease and the outer layer thickness increase, which lead to the tensile strength and burst strength of the artificial blood vessel improvement. When the mass ratio of PLA to Col are 70:30 and 90:10, the mechanical properties of artificial vessel can meet the requirements.