Clinically available synthetic ePTFE vascular grafts frequently fail when used for small-diameter arterial substitution. The lower long-term patency of ePTFE grafts is due mainly to thrombogenicity and poor healing. We developed a new small-diameter (1.5-mm) ePTFE vascular prosthesis coated with polyamino-acid urethane copolymer (PAU) to enhance endothelialization. Coating with PAU made the hydrophobic ePTFE vascular graft hydrophilic. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation showed that PAU was homogeneously coated on the ePTFE graft while maintaining the graft's porous structure. Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectra showed PAU was present on graft inner surfaces. Noncoated and PAU-coated ePTFE vascular grafts were implanted into the rat abdominal aorta and evaluated within 1 week and at 8 weeks after implantation. We evaluated the extent of neoendothelialization by SEM, light microscopy, and immunohistochemical staining. Noncoated grafts showed partial endothelialization at proximal and distal areas of grafts but none at midsection. One-percent PAU-coated grafts showed incomplete neoendothelialization, but endothelial cells were observed in the midsection of grafts. Three-percent PAU-coated ePTFE grafts showed complete endothelialization with typical endothelial cell layers under SEM and histologic observation. Immunohistochemical staining also showed that an endothelial cell lining positively reacted with anti-von Willebrand factor (endothelial cell marker) antibody. We conclude that PAU-coated ePTFE vascular grafts enhance endothelialization.
Copyright 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.