Piezoelectric vascular grafts in the rat aorta

No investigation to date has evaluated the in vivo effect of transient electric charges created by piezoelectric materials on vascular graft performance and neointima formation. In several non-vascular fields of research, however, significant effects related to regeneration of bone, skin, and neuronal tissue have been seen associated with the application of varying electric fields to healing or regenerating tissue, either with piezoelectric prostheses or by using externally applied fields. The present study was based on the hypothesis that pulsed electrical charges developed by piezoelectric vascular grafts may have the double advantage of discouraging early platelet adhesion and the related early graft thrombosis, while at the same time they may enhance the development of a stable, mature, nonthrombogenic neointima in porous or microporous graft materials. On the other hand, the real possibility was considered that the piezoelectric charges could ultimately promote excessive proliferation of cells lining the luminal aspect of the graft and result in worsening neointimal hyperplasia.