ENDOTHELIAL SEEDING OF COMPLIANT POLYURETHANE VASCULAR GRAFT MATERIAL

Compliance was measured in a new compliant polyurethane vascular graft material and in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft material using a n ultrasonic device; attachment of indium-111 oxine-labelled human end othelial cells to both surfaces with a range of surface coatings was a ssessed. Compliant polyurethane was six to eight times more compliant than PTFE (P<0.01) at all pressures in the range 50-120 mmHg, and endo thelial cell attachment to uncoated polyurethane was three times bette r than to uncoated PTFE at times up to 90 min (P<0.01). Attachment to polyurethane was also better after blood clot, collagen and fibronecti n treatment at times up to 30 min (P<0.05). Endothelial seeding of com pliant graft material may provide a prosthetic vascular substitute wit h characteristics similar to those of autologous vein.