Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Smart Vascular Grafts with Integrated Flow Biosensors for Hemodynamic Real-Time Monitoring and Vascular Healthcare

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

Real-time monitoring of hemodynamics is crucial for diagnosing disorders within implanted vascular grafts and facilitating timely treatment. Integrating vascular grafts with advanced flexible electronics offers a promising approach to developing smart vascular grafts (SVGs) capable of continuous hemodynamic monitoring. However, most existing SVG devices encounter significant challenges in practical applications, particularly regarding biomechanical compatibility and the effective evaluation of vascular status. Here, we present a state-of-the-art SVG device seamlessly integrated with flow biosensors constructed by encapsulating patterned porous graphene within biocompatible polymers. The innovative use of porous graphene imparts the SVG with exceptional mechanical sensing performance, featuring a low strain detection limit of 0.0034% and dynamic stability exceeding 32,400 cycles, thus enabling precise hemodynamic perception. This high sensitivity allows the SVG to accurately diagnose vascular disorders, such as blockage degree and position, by collecting hemodynamic data from an artificial artery model. In vitro thrombi (blood clot) diagnostics, treatment simulation experiments, and in vivo tests using a rabbit model strongly validate the SVG’s outstanding and reliable performance in vascular healthcare. We have also developed a stand-alone and wireless system, demonstrating its capability for remote monitoring and managing vascular health. Our pioneering SVG system showcases great potential in vascular healthcare for precise hemodynamic monitoring of disorders, timely diagnostics, and even drug screening. © 2025 American Chemical Society.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7661–7676
Number of pages16
JournalACS Nano
Volume19
Issue number8
Online published17 Jan 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Mar 2025

Funding

This study was supported in part by InnoHK Project on Project 1.2─Novel Drug Delivery Systems to Achieve Precision Medicine for Acute CVD Patients (a closed-loop CVD control system) at Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-cardiovascular Health Engineering (COCHE), in part by City University of Hong Kong (7020002, 7005464, 7005208, 9667220), which is funded by the Research Grants Council (RGC), in part by Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board (9211276), and in part by Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (CityU 21200921). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of InnoHK─ITC, City University of Hong Kong, the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board, or the Research Grants Council.

Research Keywords

  • flow sensors
  • hemodynamic monitoring
  • porous graphene
  • thrombus
  • vascular grafts
  • vascular healthcare

RGC Funding Information

  • RGC-funded

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Smart Vascular Grafts with Integrated Flow Biosensors for Hemodynamic Real-Time Monitoring and Vascular Healthcare'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this