An artificial blood vessel with an endothelial-cell monolayer

Abstract

An artificial blood vessel with an endothelial-cell monolayer was used as an arterial substitute in rats. Endothelial cells were isolated from the aorta of a Wistar rat by the digestion method. The cell identification was established by the cobblestone appearance of a confluent cell monolayer, by an expression of factor VIII-related antigen, and by the presence of Weibel-Palade bodies. The luminal surface of the thin-walled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft (4 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length) was coated with an endothelial-cell monolayer for 7 days in vitro. An interpositional graft was placed using the endothelial cell-coated PTFE prosthesis on the right common carotid artery in seven rats. A total of 10 rats received an interpositional graft with the noncoated PTFE prosthesis as a control. The patency rate at 1 month after implantation was significantly higher in the coated group than in the control group. The vascular prosthesis with an endothelial-cell monolayer is a promising technique to inhibit the development of thrombosis.

Adhesion and Differentiation of Endothelial Cells by Exposure to Chronic Shear Stress: A Vascular Graft Model

“…Vohra et al [7] reported a constant rate of loss at 5-6%/h, of seeded endothelial cells from gelatin or fibronectin treated and untreated grafts, when they were placed into a circuit in vitro which delivered 4.9-7.4 dyn/cm2 shear stress. Despite the poor cell retention, the patency rate for arterial grafts in rats at one month was significantly improved by preseed ing them with endothelial cells [8]. Thus, although seeding of vascular grafts with endo thelial cells prior to implantation offers the theoretical advantage of reduced rates of graft loss due to thrombosis, and perhaps also neointimal hyperplasia, practical success has been limited, in part because of the low adhe sive strength of endothelial cells to the artifi cial graft materials.…”

Modification of polyurethaneurea with PEG and YIGSR peptide to enhance endothelialization without platelet adhesion

“…1,2 The success of endothelialization depends on the adhesion of endothelial cells, retention of those endothelial cells under shear, and proliferation and migration of endothelial cells on the biomaterial surfaces. Modifications of biomaterials with adhesive peptide sequences such as YIGSR have shown improved attachment, spreading, and resistance of endothelial cells against shear stress.…”

A biologically active VEGF construct in vitro: Implications for bioengineering‐improved prosthetic vascular grafts

“…20 One of the inherent problems with prosthetic grafting has been the incomplete endothelialization of the entire graft lumen with cellular ingrowth extending at most 1cm into the graft lumen. Central segments of prosthetic grafts remain devoid of endothelium, leaving them susceptible to platelet uptake.…”