Evaluation of the biocompatibility of a new vascular prosthesis coating by detection of prosthesis-specific antibodies.
In recent experimental studies, we could demonstrate the occurrence of antibodies against the prosthesis matrix and coating following implantation of polyester-based vascular grafts. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the biocompatibility of a new absorbable polymer coating by detection of antibodies against the coating and the polyester matrix. Two polyester vascular prostheses coated either with the polymer (PP-prosthesis) or with gelatine (PG-prosthesis) were functionally implanted into sheep (n = 22 per group). Blood was drawn on days 1 (pre-OP) and 7, 14, 28, 56, 84, 140 (post-OP). Homogenates from both prostheses (PP-target or PG-target) or from an uncoated prosthesis (P-target) were used as assay targets in a particle-based immunoassay. The antibody binding against the P-target was significantly higher in the PP-group than in the PG-group on days 7-56, but not on days 84 and 140. Within both groups, no significant differences but a significant correlation between the binding against the P-target and the coated target was found. Therefore, the absorbable polymer did not induce a specific humoral immune response. In conclusion, the overall immunogenicity of the polymer-coated graft was comparable to the gelatine-coated graft. The detection of prosthesis-specific antibodies seems to be useful for in vivo biocompatibility testing.
Research Group of Predictive Diagnostics, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Greifswalder Str. 11c, 17495 Karlsburg, Germany.
Uwe
U
Walschus
Helmut
H
Goldmann
Torsten
T
Ueberrueck
Andreas
A
Hoene
Lutz
L
Wilhelm
Michael
M
Schlosser
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D008863:Microspheres; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D005780:Gelatin