| Summary: | Introduction: Vascular surgery for atherosclerosis is confronted by the lack of a suitable bypass material. Synthetic vascular prostheses include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). However, these materials become thrombosed in small-caliber applications (<6 mm) because of the lack of an endothelium. The objectives of this study were to make modifications to clinically-used PET vascular prostheses with tissue-engineered surfaces to improve their bio-compatibility towards vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and endothelial cells (EC). Methods: Blood coagulation protein fibrin (Fb) and extracellular matrix proteins collagen (Co), laminin (LM) and fibronectin (FN) were used. Cell adhesive assemblies were prepared: Co, Co/LM, Co/FN, Co/Fb, Co/Fb/FN. Cell culture experiments were performed: (1) planar static, (2) planar dynamic with simulation of blood flow, (3) tubular dynamic, and (4) animal porcine implantation. Results: The growth of EC and VSMC on commercial prostheses (ePTFE, PET and PET/Co) was low. The growth of both cell types was lower on PET/Co than on PET. After modification with protein assemblies, the highest numbers of EC were reached on PET/Co and on PET/Co +Co/Fb. There was no difference in the densities of VSMC among various assemblies. The...
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