Development of Biodegradable Small Diameter Vascular Graft

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death on a global scale. Treatment options include revascularisation, but achieving a successful vascular graft requires using one with a diameter of less than 4mm and there is no artificial vascular graft at such a small diameter available. Scientists are interested in developing biodegradable artificial vascular grafts that can help overcome challenges associated with CHD. Associate Professor Kyohei Oyama and his team in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Japan, are currently working on two main projects: Creating a biodegradable small diameter vascular graft; and developing a heart regeneration treatment via endogenous cardiac myocyte proliferation. In developing a biodegradable small diameter vascular graft, the researchers hope to benefit patients that require the revascularisation of small vessels and also positively impact young patients who are still growing. The team also hope that the discoveries made through this research might lead to advances in other organ regeneration. When it comes to the need to recover lost cardiac tissue, this is unable to regenerate as cardiac myocytes (muscle cells) have no ability to proliferate. Oyama and the team are investigating the mechanism that limits this proliferation ability with a view to activating it. If cardiac myocyte proliferation can be activated during the revascularisation of CHD, then the damaged heart can be completely cured and the possibility of heart failure eliminated.