title: Silver acetate coating promotes early vascularization of Dacron vascular grafts without inducing host tissue inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Silver acetate is frequently used as an antimicrobial coating of prosthetic vascular grafts. However, the effects of this coating on the early inflammatory and angiogenic host tissue response still remain elusive. Therefore, the aim of the present in vivo study was to analyze the biocompatibility and vascularization of silver acetate-coated and uncoated vascular grafts during the initial phase after implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two different prosthetic vascular grafts (ie, uncoated Dacron and silver acetate-coated Dacron Silver) were implanted into the dorsal skinfold chamber of C57BL/6 mice (n = 8 per group) to study angiogenesis and leukocytic inflammation at the implantation site by means of repetitive intravital fluorescence microscopy over a 14-day period. At the end of the in vivo experiments, collagen formation, apoptosis, and cell proliferation were analyzed in the newly developed granulation tissue surrounding the implants by histology and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the initial 14 days after implantation, Dacron Silver exhibited an improved vascularization, as indicated by a significantly increased functional capillary density compared with Dacron. This was not associated with a stronger leukocytic inflammatory host tissue response to the implants. Moreover, silver acetate coating did not affect collagen formation, apoptosis, and cell proliferation at the implantation site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silver acetate coating of prosthetic vascular grafts improves their early vascularization without inducing severe inflammatory side effects. Accordingly, this material modification crucially contributes to an improved incorporation of the implants into the host tissue, which may decrease the risk of vascular graft infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeanmonod
authors.forename: Matthias W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Laschke
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gola
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Heesen
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glanemann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dold
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Menger
authors.forename: Mohammed R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Moussavian
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D018030:Silver Compounds; C103100:silver acetate