title: Wet-chemical approach for the cell-adhesive modification of polytetrafluoroethylene.
abstract: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a frequently utilized polymer for the fabrication of synthetic vascular grafts, was surface-modified by means of a wet-chemical process. The inherently non-cell-adhesive polymer does not support cellular attachment, a prerequisite for the endothelialization of luminal surface grafts in small diameter applications. To impart the material with cell-adhesive properties a treatment with sodium-naphthalene provided a basis for the subsequent immobilization of the adhesion promoting RGD-peptide using a hydroxy- and amine-reactive crosslinker. Successful conjugation was shown with cell culture experiments which demonstrated excellent endothelial cell growth on the modified surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg-University School ofMedicine, Mainz, Germany. mgabriel@uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahm
authors.forename: Christian-F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Vahl
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry*; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013499:Surface Properties; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011108:Polymers; C031721:naphthalene; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012964:Sodium