APPARATUS AND METHODS OF A TUBULAR TISSUE AS A THERAPEUTIC AGENT-PRODUCING SHEATH FOR A VASCULAR GRAFT

1 . A system for replacement of a segment of vasculature, comprising:

a tubular vascular graft concentrically arranged against an outer surface of a first mandrel; and

a tubular support graft concentrically arranged against an outer surface of a second mandrel, the tubular support graft being slidable over an outer surface of the tubular vascular graft,

wherein an outer diameter of the second mandrel and an outer diameter of the tubular vascular graft are sized such that the tubular support graft can slide over the outer surface of the tubular vascular graft when the segment of the vasculature is replaced.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular vascular graft is a construct comprising a 3-dimensional proteinaceous extracellular matrix, an autograft, an allograft, or a synthetic graft.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular vascular graft is a construct comprising a 3-dimensional proteinaceous extracellular matrix subjected to decellularization, and wherein the construct was formed by seeding a substrate with cells and maintaining the cells under conditions suitable for growth of the cells, whereby the proteinaceous extracellular matrix is formed around the cells.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the substrate is polyglycolic acid.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the 3-dimensional proteinaceous extracellular matrix comprises collagen.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular vascular graft comprises smooth muscle cells.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular vascular graft comprises endothelial cells.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular vascular graft comprises smooth muscle cells toward the outer surface of the tubular vascular graft and endothelial cells toward an inner surface of the tubular vascular graft.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular vascular graft comprises autologous cells.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular support graft comprises a 3-dimensional hydrogel matrix and cellular support structures.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one of a drug, a drug-releasing microparticle, and a drug-releasing nanoparticle.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one of a cell, an organoid, and a tissue.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the cell is a pancreatic islet cell or an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived pancreatic islet cell.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the tubular support graft further comprises pancreatic islets.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one protein.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one of a vascular endothelial growth factor, a fibroblastic growth factor, a platelet derived growth factor, and a hepatocyte growth factor.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one of a Fas ligand, and a nitric oxide donor.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the cellular support structures include endothelial cells.

19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular support graft is formed by one of molding, casting, planar tissue culture, electrospinning, and 3-dimensional printing.

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the tubular support graft is less than a length of the tubular vascular graft.

21 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the tubular support graft is greater than a length of the tubular vascular graft.

22 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the tubular vascular graft is between 1 cm and 100 cm.

23 . An apparatus, comprising:

a tubular support graft comprising a 3-dimensional hydrogel matrix and cellular support structures, wherein the tubular support graft is configured to be concentrically positioned around a tubular vascular graft.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one of a drug, a drug-releasing microparticle, and a drug-releasing nanoparticle.

25 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one of a cell, an organoid, and a tissue.

26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the cell is a pancreatic islet cell or an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived pancreatic islet cell.

27 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the tubular support graft further comprises pancreatic islets.

28 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one protein.

29 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one of a vascular endothelial growth factor, a fibroblastic growth factor, a platelet derived growth factor, and a hepatocyte growth factor.

30 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cellular support structures include at least one of a Fas ligand, and a nitric oxide donor.

31 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the cellular support structures include endothelial cells.

32 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the tubular support graft is formed by one of molding, casting, planar tissue culture, electrospinning, and 3-dimensional printing.

33 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein a length of the tubular support graft is less than a length of the tubular vascular graft.

34 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein a length of the tubular support graft is greater than a length of the tubular vascular graft.

35 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein a length of the tubular vascular graft is between 1 cm and 100 cm.

36 . A method for replacing a segment of vasculature, comprising:

providing a tubular support graft concentrically arranged against an outer surface of a support mandrel;

contacting at least a planar end of the support mandrel with at least a planar end of a vascular graft mandrel; and

sliding the tubular support graft over an outer surface of a tubular vascular graft concentrically arranged against an outer surface of the vascular graft mandrel.

37 - 55 . (canceled)

56 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the tubular support graft further comprises a polymer for structural reinforcement.

57 . The system of claim 56 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one of poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polyurethane (PU), poly(glycerol-co-sebacate) (PGS), and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA).

58 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the tubular support graft further comprises a polymer for structural reinforcement.

59 . The apparatus of claim 58 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one of poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), polyurethane (PU), poly(glycerol-co-sebacate) (PGS), and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA).