title: Fabrication of biofunctional stents with endothelial progenitor cell specificity for vascular re-endothelialization.
abstract: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been identified as a crucial factor for re-endothelialization after stenting, resulting in the prevention of stent thrombosis and neointimal hyperplasia. Because EPCs can be introduced by antibody-antigen interactions, the suitable choice of antibody and the biocompatible surface modification technology including antibody immobilization are essential for developing an EPC-capturing stent. In this study, we fabricated a biofunctional stent with EPC specificity by grafting a hydrophilic polymer and consecutively immobilizing the antibody against vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) which is one of the specific EPC surface markers. The surface of a stainless steel stent was sequentially modified by acid-treatment, silanization and covalent attachment of polymers not only to improve biocompatibility but also to introduce functional groups on the stent surface. The surface-modified stent immobilized anti-VE-cadherin antibodies, and the EPCs were remarkably captured whereas THP-1s, human acute monocytic leukemia cells, were not adsorbed on the stent. Furthermore, we confirmed that the recruited EPCs developed the endothelial cell layers on the antibody-conjugated stent. These positive in vitro results will encourage the extensive application of biofunctional surface modification technology for a variety of medical devices.
authors.affiliation: Organic Synthesis Laboratory, School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chan-Koo
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Woo-Hyun
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: San
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyeong
authors.forename: Won-Seok
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Hyo-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bong-Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Yoon-Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D011108:Polymers