IMPROVED ENDOTHELIAL-CELL ATTACHMENT ON EPTFE VASCULAR GRAFTS PRETREATED WITH SYNTHETIC RGD-CONTAINING PEPTIDES

Objections: To assess endothelial cell (EC) attachment in seeding of e xpanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular prostheses by applica tion of a new technique of coupling synthetic RGD-containing peptides with the graft surface. Design: Prospective, open study. Setting: Univ ersity Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Institute of Biochemis try. Materials and Methods: ePTFE vascular grafts (group I) uncoated ( group 2) coated with fibronectin (group 3) coated with a RGD-containin g peptide or (group 4) coated in a similar way to group 3 but without application of a RGD-peptide, were incubated for 30 min with adult hum an saphenous vein endothelial cells. After seeding, grafts were expose d to shear stress in an artificial flow circuit. EC attachment after s eeding and retention after perfusion was assessed by scanning electron microscopy and image analysis. Main results: Both EC attachment and r etention were significantly increased by coating with fibronectin in c omparison to uncoated ePTFE. Graft coating with an RGD-peptide lend to the highest increase in EC attachment (30.6% +/- 2.1%) and retention after shear stress (62.9% +/- 7.5%) compared to fibronectin coated (26 .0% +/- 3.3%/45.5% +/- 2.1%), uncoated (14.9% +/- 3.1%/13.9% +/- 7.9%) and similar coated ePTFE grafts without application of a RGD-peptide (10.5% +/- 1.1%/6.6% +/- 1.5%). Conclusions: EC attachment on uncoated ePTFE vascular prostheses is very weak. Our technique of coupling the ePTFE graft surface with cell adhesion promoting RGD-containing synth etic peptides significantly improved this decisive step in endothelial cell seeding of ePTFE grafts.