Preclinical evaluation of tissue-engineered vascular grafts with biodegradable components: assessing the effectiveness of animal models from rats to primates

Currently, there are no highly effective small-diameter (≤4 mm) grafts on the market for cardiovascular surgery. Tissue-engineered, functionally active vascular grafts with prolonged resorption and regeneration capacity have the potential to serve as alternatives to traditional arterial grafts. These bioengineered grafts could eliminate the need for repeated surgical interventions to replace failed grafts. The accuracy of assessing the risks of failure in biodegradable small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) during preclinical trials is highly dependent on the choice of animal model. This article presents the results of comprehensive preclinical trials conducted on an SDVG developed at the Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases. Based on these findings, the study evaluates the effectiveness and feasibility of different animal models for testing biodegradable SDVGs.