Dy. Tseng et Er. Edelman, EFFECTS OF AMIDE AND AMINE PLASMA-TREATED EPTFE VASCULAR GRAFTS ON ENDOTHELIAL-CELL LINING IN AN ARTIFICIAL CIRCULATORY-SYSTEM, Journal of biomedical materials research, 42(2), 1998, pp. 188-198
We sought to examine whether surface modification of expanded polytetr
afluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular grafts might extend graft patency wit
hout modifying the graft structure. Amide and amine plasma (butylamine
) were applied to graft surfaces using radio frequency glow discharge.
Surface analyses by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuate
d total reflectance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and dynamic con
tact angle measurements revealed the presence of nitrogen-containing f
unctional groups on the plasma modified graft surfaces, along with an
increased surface hydrophilicity. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were
seeded on amide and amine plasma coated ePTFE vascular grafts; and pl
aced inside an artificial circulatory system under well-defined flow c
onditions. The seeded endothelial cells were exposed to either constan
t or pulsatile flow condition far 5 days. Their corresponding maximum
wall shear stresses were 1 dyn/cm(2) under constant flow and 65, 108,
and 259 dyn/cm(2) under various pulsatile flows. Plasma modified ePTFE
vascular grafts enhanced the endothelial cell Lining under constant a
nd pulsatile now conditions, Fluorescence nuclear staining, scanning e
lectron microscopy, and histological staining indicated the formation
of an endothelial cell monolayer on the plasma coated graft surfaces.
(C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.