title: Endothelial cell seeding of small diameter vascular grafts.
abstract: This study examines, under flow conditions, the adhesion of endothelial cells to 3 mm diameter fibronectin (Fn)-coated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular grafts. Cultured ovine carotid artery endothelial cells were labelled with 35S-methionine. The grafts were seeded with endothelial cells (1.5 x 10(6)/ml) by rolling for 1 h at 37 degrees C and then either cultured to confluence for 48 h or flow tested immediately. Cell attachment to grafts (n = 5) was evaluated in an in vitro flow circuit, using flows of up to 330 ml/min. Ex vivo studies (n = 5 grafts) were conducted without anticoagulant using autologous cells in a sheep model. Grafts were inserted into an externalized carotid-jugular shunt and exposed to blood flows of approximately 150 ml/min for 3 h. One hour seeded and 48 h cultured grafts demonstrated greater than 95% cell retention following in vitro flow studies. Ex vivo studies of 48 h cultured grafts gave endothelial cell retention of 81% with no sign of thrombogenicity. Furthermore, a preliminary 24 h ex vivo study has shown greater than 95% retention. This study demonstrates the firm attachment of seeded endothelial cells to Fn-coated PTFE grafts in the sheep model.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schindhelm
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slowiaczek
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Milthorpe
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Dudman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000166:cytology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D005353:Fibronectins; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012756:Sheep; D014654:Vascular Patency
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene