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Surgical Innovation
June 22, 2022

The Human Acellular Vessel for Vascular Reconstruction or Bypass: A Novel Biologic Conduit for Vascular Bypass and Repair

Author Affiliations
  • 1Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University Bethesda, Bethesda, Maryland
  • 2Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
JAMA Surg. 2022;157(8):731-732. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2022.1214

The Human Acellular Vessel (HAV) (Humacyte Inc) is a new biologic vascular conduit developed using regenerative medicine technology. Human vascular smooth muscle cells derived from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–registered tissue donors are isolated, expanded in culture, and seeded onto a biodegradable, polyglycolic acid mesh scaffold. The scaffolds are maintained within bioreactors and the developing vessels undergo pulsatile, cyclic distension for 8 weeks. The scaffold degrades and the newly formed extracellular matrix, including collagens type I and III, fibronectin, and vitronectin, is decellularized to remove immunogenic material while preserving the new vessel’s structure, tensile strength, and durability (Figure, A).1-4

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