Incorporation of Copper Nanoparticles on Electrospun Polyurethane Membrane Fibers by a Spray Method.

Electrospinning is an easy and versatile technique to obtain nanofibrous membranes with nanosized fibers, high porosity, and pore interconnectivity. Metal nanoparticles (e.g., Ag, Cu, ZnO) exhibit excellent biocide properties due to their size, shape, release of metal ions, or reactive oxygen species production, and thus are often used as antimicrobial agents. In this study, a combined electrospinning/spray technique was employed to fabricate electrospun polyurethane membranes loaded with copper nanoparticles at different surface densities (10, 20, 25, or 30 µg/cm2). This method allows particle deposition onto the surface of the membranes without the use of chemical agents. SEM images showed that polyurethane fibers own homogeneous thickness (around 650 nm), and that spray-deposited copper nanoparticles are evenly distributed. STEM-EDX demonstrated that copper nanoparticles are deposited onto the surface of the fibers and are not covered by polyurethane. Moreover, a uniaxial rupture test showed that particles are firmly anchored to the electrospun fibers. Antibacterial tests against model microorganisms Escherichia coli indicated that the prepared electrospun membranes possess good bactericidal effect. Finally, the antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 was about 90% after 1 h of direct contact. The obtained results suggested that the electrospun membranes possess antimicrobial activities and can be used in medical and industrial applications.

In vitro human cord blood platelet lysate characterisation with potential application in wound healing.

Platelets contain abundant growth factors and cytokines that have a positive influence on the migration and proliferation of different cell types by modulating its physiopathological processes. As it is known that human umbilical cord blood platelet lysate (UCB-PL) contains a supraphysiological concentration of growth factors, in the present study, we investigated its effectiveness in wound-healing processes. Human UCB-PL was obtained by the freeze/thaw of platelet concentrate (1.1 × 109 platelets/L), and its effect was evaluated on human or mouse endothelial cells, monocytes, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes in different concentrations. Human UCB-PL was observed to have high levels of pro-angiogenic growth factor than peripheral blood platelet-rich plasma. Among the cell lines, different concentrations of human UCB-PL were necessary to influence their viability and proliferation. For L929 cells, 5% of total volume was necessary, while for human umbilical vein endothelial cell, it was 10%. Cell migration on monocytes was increased with respect to the positive control, and scratch closure on keratinocytes was increased with respect to serum-free medium with only 10% of human UCB-PL. We concluded that the human UCB-PL may be useful to produce a large amount of standard platelet concentrates sufficient for several clinical-scale expansions avoiding inter-individual variability, which can also be used as a functional tool for clinical regenerative application for wound healing.

A combined method for bilayered vascular graft fabrication.

Autologous saphenous vein is still the conduit of choice for peripheral by-pass. Synthetic vascular grafts in polyethylene terephthalate and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene are used if vein access cannot be obtained. However they are successfully used to replace large diameter vessels, but they fail in small diameters (<6 mm). In the present study a bilayered synthetic vascular graft was developed. The graft was composed of an inner nanofibrous layer obtained by electrospinning able to host endothelial cells and a highly porous external layer obtained by spray, phase-inversion technique capable to sustain tunica media regeneration. Graft morphology and thickness, fiber size, pore size and layer adhesion strength were assessed. The innovative combination of two different consolidated techniques allowed to manufacture a nanostructured composite graft featuring a homogeneous microporous layer firmly attached on the top of the electrospun layer. By tuning the mechanical properties and the porosity of vascular prostheses, it will be possible to optimize the graft for in situ tissue regeneration while preventing blood leakage.

Riboflavin based setup as an alternative method for a preliminary screening of face mask filtration efficiency.

Face masks are essential in reducing the transmission of respiratory infections and bacterial filtration efficiency, a key parameter of mask performances, requires the use of Staphylococcus aureus and specialised staff. This study aims to develop a novel method for a preliminary screening of masks or materials filtration efficiency by a green, easy and rapid setup based on the use of a riboflavin solution, a safe autofluorescent biomolecule. The proposed setup is composed of a commercial aerosol generator commonly used for aerosol therapy, custom 3D printed aerosol chamber and sample holder, a filter for downstream riboflavin detection and a vacuum pump. The filtration efficiency of four different masks was assessed using the riboflavin-based setup and the bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE). The averaged filtration efficiency values, measured with both methods, were similar but were higher for the riboflavin-based setup (about 2% for all tested samples) than bacterial filtration efficiency. Considering the good correlation, the riboflavin-based setup can be considered validated as an alternative method to bacterial filtration efficiency for masks and related materials fabrics filtration efficiency screening but This study aims to develop a novel method for a preliminary screening of masks or materials filtration efficiency by a green, easy and rapid setup based on the use of a riboflavin solution, a safe autofluorescent biomolecule, but not to replace regulation approaches. The proposed setup can be easily implemented at low price, is more rapid and eco-friendly and can be performed in chemical-physical laboratories without the needing of biosafety laboratory and specialised operators.

One-step silver coating of polypropylene surgical mask with antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Face masks can filter droplets containing viruses and bacteria minimizing the transmission and spread of respiratory pathogens but are also an indirect source of microbes transmission. A novel antibacterial and antiviral Ag-coated polypropylene surgical mask obtained through the in situ and one-step deposition of metallic silver nanoparticles, synthesized by silver mirror reaction combined with sonication or agitation methods, is proposed in this study. SEM analysis shows Ag nanoparticles fused together in a continuous and dense layer for the coating obtained by sonication, whereas individual Ag nanoparticles around 150 nm were obtained combining the silver mirror reaction with agitation. EDX, XRD and XPS confirm the presence of metallic Ag in both coatings and also oxidized Ag in samples by agitation. A higher amount of Ag nanoparticles is deposited on samples by sonication, as calculated by TGA. Further, both coatings are biocompatible and show antibacterial properties: coating by sonication caused 24 % and 40 % of bacterial reduction while coating by agitation 48 % and 96 % against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. At 1 min of contact with SARS-CoV-2, the coating by agitation has an antiviral capacity of 75 % against 24 % of the one by sonication. At 1 h, both coatings achieve 100 % of viral inhibition. Nonetheless, larger samples could be produced only through the silver mirror reaction combined with agitation, preserving the integrity of the mask. In conclusion, the silver-coated mask produced by silver mirror reaction combined with agitation is scalable, has excellent physico-chemical characteristics as well as significant biological properties, with higher antimicrobial activities, providing additional protection and preventing the indirect transmission of pathogens.

[Biomaterials and technologies for vascular grafts: from bench to bedside]. / Biomateriali e graft technology per protesi vascolari: dal laboratorio alla clinica.

Peripheral artery disease and related revascularization procedures are increasing, due to the aging population and growing incidence of diabetes mellitus. Up to now, autologous saphenous vein is the conduit of choice for peripheral by-pass. Synthetic vascular graft in polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron®) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) are used if vein access cannot be obtained. These synthetic grafts are successfully used to replace large diameter vessels, but they fail in small diameters (<6 mm) such as for infragenicular by-pass. Reasons for failure are early thrombosis and late intimal hyperplasia. Novel small-diameter vascular grafts with an acceptable clinical outcome are therefore needed. Here, the main materials and technologies for the manufacturing of vascular grafts and the pathway from bench to bedside are discussed .

Fibrinogen-Based Bioink for Application in Skin Equivalent 3D Bioprinting.

Three-dimensional bioprinting has emerged as an attractive technology due to its ability to mimic native tissue architecture using different cell types and biomaterials. Nowadays, cell-laden bioink development or skin tissue equivalents are still at an early stage. The aim of the study is to propose a bioink to be used in skin bioprinting based on a blend of fibrinogen and alginate to form a hydrogel by enzymatic polymerization with thrombin and by ionic crosslinking with divalent calcium ions. The biomaterial ink formulation, composed of 30 mg/mL of fibrinogen, 6% of alginate, and 25 mM of CaCl2, was characterized in terms of homogeneity, rheological properties, printability, mechanical properties, degradation rate, water uptake, and biocompatibility by the indirect method using L929 mouse fibroblasts. The proposed bioink is a homogeneous blend with a shear thinning behavior, excellent printability, adequate mechanical stiffness, porosity, biodegradability, and water uptake, and it is in vitro biocompatible. The fibrinogen-based bioink was used for the 3D bioprinting of the dermal layer of the skin equivalent. Three different normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) densities were tested, and better results in terms of viability, spreading, and proliferation were obtained with 4 × 106 cell/mL. The skin equivalent was bioprinted, adding human keratinocytes (HaCaT) through bioprinting on the top surface of the dermal layer. A skin equivalent stained by live/dead and histological analysis immediately after printing and at days 7 and 14 of culture showed a tissuelike structure with two distinct layers characterized by the presence of viable and proliferating cells. This bioprinted skin equivalent showed a similar native skin architecture, paving the way for its use as a skin substitute for wound healing applications.

Marine Collagen-Based Bioink for 3D Bioprinting of a Bilayered Skin Model.

Marine organisms (i.e., fish, jellyfish, sponges or seaweeds) represent an abundant and eco-friendly source of collagen. Marine collagen, compared to mammalian collagen, can be easily extracted, is water-soluble, avoids transmissible diseases and owns anti-microbial activities. Recent studies have reported marine collagen as a suitable biomaterial for skin tissue regeneration. The aim of this work was to investigate, for the first time, marine collagen from basa fish skin for the development of a bioink for extrusion 3D bioprinting of a bilayered skin model. The bioinks were obtained by mixing semi-crosslinked alginate with 10 and 20 mg/mL of collagen. The bioinks were characterised by evaluating the printability in terms of homogeneity, spreading ratio, shape fidelity and rheological properties. Morphology, degradation rate, swelling properties and antibacterial activity were also evaluated. The alginate-based bioink containing 20 mg/mL of marine collagen was selected for 3D bioprinting of skin-like constructs with human fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The bioprinted constructs showed a homogeneous distribution of viable and proliferating cells at days 1, 7 and 14 of culture evaluated by qualitative (live/dead) and qualitative (XTT) assays, and histological (H&E) and gene expression analysis. In conclusion, marine collagen can be successfully used to formulate a bioink for 3D bioprinting. In particular, the obtained bioink can be printed in 3D structures and is able to support fibroblasts and keratinocytes viability and proliferation.

Silicone-coated non-woven polyester dressing enhances reepithelialisation in a sheep model of dermal wounds.

Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) also known as V.A.C. (Vacuum-assisted closure), is widely used to manage various type of wounds and accelerate healing. NPWT has so far been delivered mainly via open-cell polyurethane (PU) foam or medical gauze. In this study an experimental setup of sheep wound model was used to evaluate, under NPWT conditions, the performance of a silicone-coated non-woven polyester (N-WPE) compared with PU foam and cotton hydrophilic gauze, used as reference materials. Animals were anesthetized with spontaneous breathing to create three 3 × 3 cm skin defects bilaterally; each animal received three different samples on each side (n = 6 in each experimental group) and was subjected to negative and continuous 125 mmHg pressure up to 16 days. Wound conditions after 1, 8 and 16 days of treatment with the wound dressings were evaluated based on gross and histological appearances. Skin defects treated with the silicone-coated N-WPE showed a significant decrease in wound size, an increase of re-epithelialization, collagen deposition and wound neovascularisation, and a minimal stickiness to the wound tissue, in comparison with gauze and PU foam. Taken all together these findings indicate that the silicone-coated N-WPE dressing enhances wound healing since stimulates higher granulation tissue formation and causes minor tissue trauma during dressing changes.

Analysis of oxidative degradation and calcification behavior of a silicone polycarbonate polyurethane-polydimethylsiloxane material.

The biocompatibility and chemical stability of implantable devices are crucial for their long-term success. CarboSil® is a silicon polycarbonate polyurethane copolymer with good biocompatibility and biostability properties. Here, we explored the possibility to improve these characteristics by introducing 30% of extra-chain cross-linkable poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS). Patches made of CarboSil and CarboSil-30% PDMS were manufactured by spray, phase-inversion technique and subjected to a heating-pressure treatment. Both materials showed good biocompatibility, either in viability and proliferation of cell-based experiments both with mouse fibroblasts and subcutaneous implant in rats. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed a significant decrease in soft segment loss in CarboSil-30% PDMS samples with respect to CarboSil in in vitro accelerated oxidative treatments with CoCl2 and 20% H2 O2 at 37°C up to 36 days. Same results were observed in subcutaneous implants up to 90 days. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy on samples exposed to calcification solutions during 80 days highlighted the presence of a homogeneous distribution of calcium deposition over the entire surface of CarboSil samples, while no calcium deposits were observed in CarboSil-30% PDMS samples. Patches subjected to subcutaneous experiments showed no sign of calcification after 90 days, irrespectively of their composition. Thanks to the improved characteristics in terms of degradation and calcification the modified materials described in this work hold great promise for their use in the manufacture of cardiovascular devices.

Plasminogen-Loaded Fibrin Scaffold as Drug Delivery System for Wound Healing Applications.

Plasminogen is a protein involved in intravascular and extravascular fibrinolysis, as well as in wound healing, cell migration, tissue formation and angiogenesis. In recent years its role in healing of tympanic perforations has been demonstrated in plasminogen deficient mice. The aim of this work was to fabricate a fibrin-based drug delivery system able to provide a local and sustained release of plasminogen at the wound site. Initially, the biological activity of plasminogen was evaluated by in vitro experiments on cell cultures. A metabolic assay (MTT) was carried out on L929 mouse fibroblast to determine the concentration that does not affect cell viability, which turned out to be 64 nM. The effect of plasminogen on cell migration was evaluated through a scratch test on human keratinocytes: cells treated with 64 nM plasminogen showed faster scratch closure than in complete medium. Fibrin scaffold loaded with plasminogen was fabricated by a spray process. SEM analysis showed the typical nano-fibrillar structure of a fibrin scaffold. Tensile tests highlighted significantly higher value of the ultimate stress and strain of fibrin scaffold with respect to fibrin clot. The in-vitro release kinetic showed an initial plasminogen burst, after that the release slowed, reaching a plateau at 7 days. Plasminogen-loaded fibrin scaffold applied in full-thickness diabetic mouse lesions showed a significantly higher closure rate at 14 days than scaffold used as a reference material. Histological analysis demonstrated an improved reepithelization and collagen deposition in granulation tissue in mouse treated with plasminogen-loaded fibrin scaffold in comparison to unloaded fibrin scaffold. The obtained results demonstrated the suitability of the fibrin scaffold loaded with plasminogen as drug delivery system and suggest its use in wound healing applications, such as for the treatment of chronic diabeticulcers.

A Copper nanoparticles-based polymeric spray coating: Nanoshield against Sars-Cov-2.

Face masks are an effective protection tool to prevent bacterial and viral transmission. However, commercial face masks contain filters made of materials that are not capable of inactivating either SARS-CoV-2. In this regard, we report the development of an antiviral coating of polyurethane and Copper nanoparticles on a face mask filter fabricated with a spray technology that is capable of inactivating more than 99% of SARS-CoV-2 particles in 30 min of contact.

Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Hydrogel Film Combined with Umbilical Cord Blood Platelet gel as an Innovative Tool for Chronic Wound Management: A Pilot Clinical Study.

Treatment of chronic leg ulcers remains a major challenge and it is a substantial financial burden on individuals, families, caregivers, and health care system. There is increasing evidence on using of autologous Platelet-rich-plasma in wound repair but limited clinical data are available on the efficacy and safety of the use of umbilical cord blood platelet gel (CBPG). In our pilot study, for the first time, we aimed to evaluated the safety and efficacy of the use of umbilical CBPG combined with a hydrogel dressing in 10 patients with chronic venous ulcers (VU). The protocol consisted of application of umbilical cord blood platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with a Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based hydrogel dressing once a week for 4 weeks. The 80% of patients after 4 weeks of treatment had a significantly decrease in wound size. Moreover, we obtained an improvement in terms of mean Wound Bed Score (WBS), numeric rating scale (NRS) value and the EQ-5D index score. This pilot study showed that the topically therapeutic administration of umbilical CBPG associated with a CMC-based hydrogel dressing has the potential to accelerate the healing of chronic lesions without adverse reaction. However, additional studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm our findings.

Cyanoacrylate surgical glue as an alternative to suture threads for mesh fixation in hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the use of synthetic glues has become an established practice in several areas of surgical treatment. For example, they are used in open and laparoscopic surgery and in digestive tract endoscopy, interventional radiology, and vascular neuroradiology. The experiments in this study were aimed at elucidating that suture-based permanent mesh fixation can be replaced by fixation with N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate glue (Glubran2) for surgical repair of abdominal wall hernias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 25 Wistar rats, two hernia defects (1.5 cm in diameter) per animal were created bilaterally in the midline of the abdominal wall. The peritoneum was spared. The lesions were left untreated for 10 d to achieve a chronic condition. Then the defects were covered with TiMESH extralight (2 × 2 cm) and fixed by 30 µL of Glubran2 or traditional suture. The time points of sacrifice were 17 and 28 d, 3, 4, and 5 mo. At autopsy, histology and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the inflammatory response and the presence of apoptotic cells respectively. RESULTS: Mesh fixation was excellent in all samples at each time point. At application sites, the inflammatory reaction was mild with a small number of macrophages and vascularized connective tissue presence around glue and mesh threads. Glue residues were observed in histologic sections at each time point. No presence of apoptotic cells was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that Glubran2 can effectively replace traditional suture in mesh fixation without affecting tissue healing and determining a physiological inflammatory reaction at the abdominal wall site.

The effect of gamma irradiation on physical-mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of polyurethane-polydimethylsiloxane microfibrillar vascular grafts.

Poly(ether) urethane (PEtU)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based materials have been processed by a spray, phase-inversion technique to produce microfibrillar small-diameter vascular grafts; however the effect of sterilization upon these grafts is still unknown. This study investigated the effect of gamma irradiation on grafts made of PEtU-PDMS materials containing different PDMS concentrations. Sterilisation-induced changes in surface chemical structure and morphology were assessed by infrared spectroscopy, light and scanning electron microscopy. Tensile tests were used to examine changes in mechanical properties and the cytotoxicity evaluation was performed on L929 fibroblasts. The study demonstrated that physical-chemical and mechanical properties of PEtU-PDMS grafts, at each PDMS concentration, were not significantly affected by the exposure to gamma irradiation, moreover no sign of cytotoxicity was observed after sterilisation. Although in vitro experiments have been promising, further in vivo studies are necessary to evaluate the biodegradation behaviour of PEtU-PDMS graft after gamma irradiation, before any clinical application.

A New Method for Fibrin-Based Electrospun/Sprayed Scaffold Fabrication.

Fibrin is an optimal scaffold for tissue-engineering applications because it mimics the extracellular matrix. Despite this interesting feature, fibrin gel owns only poor mechanical properties that limit its applications. Different approaches have been used for fibrin electrospinning, however all the methods investigated required washing steps, cross-linking agent treatment or immersion. The aim of this work was to produce a bilayered fibrin/polyurethane scaffold by combination of the electrospun method and the spray, phase-inversion method for the preparation of a fibrin nanostructured layer to be attached onto a poly(ether)urethane microporous support layer. The synthetic layer was obtained by the spray, phase-inversion technique onto a rotating metallic collector, while fibrinogen was processed to obtain a nanofibrous structure by electrospinning. Finally, fibrin polymerization was obtained by thrombin solution spraying onto the electrospun nanofibers. SEM analysis showed the formation of filamentous structure with diameter in the range of µm attached onto the synthetic layer. This scaffold could be applied in soft tissue regeneration such as wound healing or as drug delivery system.

Bilayered Fibrin-Based Electrospun-Sprayed Scaffold Loaded with Platelet Lysate Enhances Wound Healing in a Diabetic Mouse Model.

The present study examined the effects of a bilayered fibrin/poly(ether)urethane scaffold loaded with platelet lysate by a combination of electrospinning and spray, phase-inversion method for wound healing. In particular, the poly(ether)urethane layer was obtained using by a spray phase-inversion method and the fibrin fibers network were loaded with platelet lysate by electrospinning. The kinetics release and the bioactivity of growth factors released from platelet lysate-scaffold were investigated by ELISA and cell proliferation test using mouse fibroblasts, respectively. The in-vitro experiments demonstrated that a bilayered fibrin/poly(ether)urethane scaffold loaded with platelet lysate provides a sustained release of bioactive platelet-derived growth factors. The effect of a bilayered fibrin/poly(ether)urethane scaffold loaded with platelet lysate on wound healing in diabetic mouse (db/db) was also investigated. The application of the scaffold on full-thickness skin wounds significantly accelerated wound closure at day 14 post-surgery when compared to scaffold without platelet lysates or commercially available polyurethane film, and at the same level of growth factor-loaded scaffold. Histological analysis demonstrated an increased re-epithelialization and collagen deposition in platelet lysate and growth factor loaded scaffolds. The ability of bilayered fibrin/poly(ether)urethane scaffold loaded with platelet lysate to promote in-vivo wound healing suggests its usefulness in clinical treatment of diabetic ulcers.

Glubran2 surgical glue: in vitro evaluation of adhesive and mechanical properties.

BACKGROUND: In surgical and endoscopic procedures, tissue adhesives are commonly used as reinforcement of sutures or as bonding and hemostatic agents. Fibrin glues do not guarantee adequate properties for many clinical applications; on the contrary, cyanoacrylate glues guarantee high bonding strength between biologic tissues. The aim of this study was to provide evidence regarding adhesive and strength properties of a widely used cyanoacrylate glue, Glubran2, GEM s.r.l., Viareggio, Italy. Comparative tests were also carried out on a commercial fibrin glue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Glubran2 is a modified n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue approved for internal and external use, in Europe. The glue, on contact with living tissues polymerizes rapidly, generating a film that guarantees firm adherence of tissues. In this study, adhesive properties on biologic substrates, both of Glubran2 and of fibrin glue, were investigated according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, while their strength, after polymerization on an inert substrate, was investigated according to Deutsches Institut Für Normung (DIN) standards. RESULTS: All tests evidenced a strong bonding capability of Glubran2 on biologic tissues and high tensile strength of polymerized film; high breaking strength of polymerized glue was highlighted by tensile tests. CONCLUSION: The present study fills the gap concerning Glubran2 adhesive and tensile properties. All tests showed the intrinsic tensile strength of polymerized Glubran2 and its capability to realize a higher-resistance bonding among biologic tissues, in comparison with fibrin glue, giving strong indication of its usefulness in surgical and endoscopic practice, especially in a wet environment.

In vivo evaluation of an elastomeric small-diameter vascular graft reinforced with a highly flexible Nitinol mesh.

Highly porous small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) prepared with elastomeric materials such as poly(ether urethane) (PEtU)-polydimethylsiloxane (PEtU-PDMS) are capable to biodegrade but may develop aneurismal dilatation. Through a compliance/patency assessment with ultrasound techniques, the current study investigated the functionality, in terms of patency and endothelialization, of a highly flexible and porous Nitinol mesh incorporated into PEtU-PDMS SDVGs in a sheep carotid model. Nitinol-PEtU-PDMS grafts with an internal diameter (ID) of 4 mm were manufactured by spray, phase-inversion technique. Compliance tests were performed by ultrasound (US) imaging using a high-resolution ultrasound diagnostic system. Ten adult sheep were implanted with 7 cm long grafts. The results of this study demonstrated an almost complete neointima luminal coverage in transmurally porous grafts reinforced with the Nitinol meshes after 6 months of implantation. Additionally, ultrasound has been used to quantitatively assess and monitor hemodynamic variables in an experimental model of synthetic vascular graft replacement. The use of reinforced PEtU-PDMS grafts may accelerate the endothelialization process of relatively long grafts, such as those needed for aortocoronary bypass. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 951-964, 2019.

Small-caliber vascular grafts based on a piezoelectric nanocomposite elastomer: Mechanical properties and biocompatibility.

The development of small-caliber grafts still represents a challenge in the field of vascular prostheses. Among other factors, the mechanical properties mismatch between natural vessels and artificial devices limits the efficacy of state-of-the-art materials. In this paper, a novel nanocomposite graft with an internal diameter of 6 mm is proposed. The device is obtained through spray deposition using a semi-interpenetrating polymeric network combining poly(ether)urethane and polydimethilsyloxane. The inclusion of BaTiO3 nanoparticles endows the scaffold with piezoelectric properties, which may be exploited in the future to trigger beneficial biological effects. Graft characterization demonstrated a good nanoparticle dispersion and an overall porosity that was not influenced by the presence of nanoparticles. Graft mechanical properties resembled (or even ameliorated) the ones of natural vessels: both doped and non-doped samples showed a Young's modulus of ∼700 kPa in the radial direction and ∼900 kPa in the longitudinal direction, an ultimate tensile strength of ∼1 MPa, a strain to failure of ∼700%, a suture retention force of ∼1.7 N and a flexural rigidity of ∼2.5 × 10-5 N m2. The two grafts differed in terms of burst strength that resulted ∼800 kPa for the control non-doped samples and ∼1100 kPa for the doped ones. The graft doped with BaTiO3 nanoparticles showed a d33 coefficient of 1.91 pm/V, almost double than the non-doped control. The device resulted highly stable, with a mass loss smaller than 2% over 3 months and an excellent biocompatibility.