MAGNETICALLY ORIENTATED TISSUE-EQUIVALENT TUBES - APPLICATION TO A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ORIENTATED MEDIA-EQUIVALENT

Circumferential orientation of collagen fibrils in a media-equivalent (ME) is achieved in a simple and effective way using the orientating e ffects of a strong magnetic field during collagen fibrillogenesis when the ME is first created. Circumferential orientation of the entrapped smooth muscle cells (SMC) is achieved subsequently via cell contact g uidance, the induced SMC orientation along orientated fibrils. After d escribing the methods used, several lines of evidence are provided sho wing that the magnetically orientated ME is circumferentially orientat ed, including collagen birefringence, circumferential SMC orientation, accelerated ME compaction and increased ME stiffness with reduced cre ep in the circumferential direction as compared to control MEs not exp osed to a magnetic field during fibrillogenesis. The optimization of t hese methods is discussed in order to better mimic the circumferential orientation and mechanical properties of a natural medium. Other appl ications of magnetically orientated tissue-equivalents are indicated.