Fabrication of Matrices of Nonwoven Porcine Carotid Arteries and Investigation of their Functional Properties

Abstract

The process of molding tubular matrices of porcine carotid arteries by electroforming from polycaprolactone and a mixture of F-26 fluoroplastic with SKF-26 synthetic fluorine-containing rubber (SFR), which is a vinylidene fluoride−hexafluoropropylene copolymer, is studied. The mechanical properties of the formed matrices in dry and wet state are studied and they are compared with native vessels, the composition of the matrix material is optimized, the molding conditions are set, and the desired vessel wall thickness is chosen. It is shown that the matrices fabricated from fluoroplastics are akin to native vessels in functional properties.