| abstract |
The present invention relates to a tissue engineering scaffold (TE scaffold) that mimics the biomechanical behavior of natural blood vessels, a tissue engineered blood vessel (TEBV) obtained from a TE scaffold, and methods of making and using TE scaffolds and TEBV . In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of making a tissue engineering scaffold that includes two or more different tubular elements. In one embodiment, the method comprises: (a) providing a first tubular element having an elastic element, an outer surface, an inner lumen surface, and a first diameter; and (b) a first tubular element. Expanding to a second diameter; (c) providing a second tubular element having a pull element, an outer surface, and an inner luminal surface on the outer surface of the expanded tubular element of step (b). Etc. |