The present study addresses this question by investigating the
effect on compliance characteristics of incorporating PVA-SbQ
electrospun fibres in a PVA/gelatin cryogel vessel compared with
the unreinforced case. PVA/gelatin cryogel samples have been
extensively mechanically and biologically characterised in terms of
suitability for vascular tissue engineering applications [10,11].
PVA-SbQ (Polyvinyl alcohol with styrylpyridinium pendent
groups) is a photosensitive polymer which becomes water insoluble when photocrosslinked, and is widely used in photolithographic processes [12]. Parameters for electrospinning of PVASbQ have previously been determined [13,14].