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Evaluation of Electrostatically Endothelial Cell Seeded Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Grafts in a Canine Femoral Artery Model

Anthony Cassano

Raymond G. Makhoul

Department of Surgery/Division of Vascular Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980108, Richmond, VA 23298-0108, USA

Cynthia Allen

Department of Surgery/Cardiac Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980532, Richmond, VA 23298-0532, USA

Rick Sims

Jeffrey Bulgrin

William H. Falor Center for Vascular Studies, Akron City Hospital, Summa Health System, Akron, OH 44309, USA

Andrew Meyer

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980694, Richmond, VA 23298-0694, USA

Gary L. Bowlin

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980694, Richmond, VA 23298-0694, USAglbowlin{at}saturn.vcu.edu

Stanley E. Rittgers

Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-0302, USA

(1) Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent (luminal coverage) of the endothelial cell (EC) lining/neointimal development and the thromboresistance of electrostatically EC seeded small diameter e-PTFE vascular grafts.

(2) Methods: This evaluation consisted of harvesting autologous, canine jugular vein ECs, electrostatically EC seeding the e-PTFE grafts (4 mm GORE-TEX,® Length = 6 cm), implanting the grafts in a canine femoral artery model for six weeks, and excising the graft for histological and scanning electron microscopy evaluations.

(3) Results: The results of the histological evaluation (mid-graft region only) indicated that the electrostatic EC seeding significantly affected neointimal development (p<0.01) and the degree of thrombus formation (p<0.001) within the EC seeded grafts versus the untreated control grafts. Scanning electron microscopy examination demonstrated a mature, confluent endothelium with a "cobblestone" appearance on the EC seeded graft luminal surface. The control grafts demonstrated an equal distribution of SMCs through the graft wall while the electrostatically EC seeded graft sections exhibited an uneven SMC cellular distribution which was skewed toward the graft luminal surface.

(4) Conclusions: The presence of electrostatic EC seeding significantly (p<0.01) enhanced the development of a neointima and reduced the incidence of thrombosis in e-PTFE grafts implanted in a canine femoral artery model. Results of the mid-graft SMC migration measurements indicate that the electrostatic EC seeding had a significant (p<0.001) impact on the acute healing of the standard wall e-PTFE vascular graft specimens.

Key Words: endothelial cell seeding • vascular graft • e–PTFE

Journal of Biomaterials Applications, Vol. 17, No. 2, 135-152 (2002)
DOI: 10.1106/088532802030556


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