title: Elastin-like recombinamer-covered stents: Towards a fully biocompatible and non-thrombogenic device for cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: We explored the use of recently developed gels obtained by the catalyst free click reaction of elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) to fabricate a new class of covered stents. The approach consists in embedding bare metal stents in the ELR gels by injection molding, followed by endothelialization under dynamic pressure and flow conditions in a bioreactor. The mechanical properties of the gels could be easily tuned by choosing the adequate concentration of the ELR components and their biofunctionality could be tailored by inserting specific sequences (RGD and REDV). The ELR-covered stents exhibited mechanical stability under high flow conditions and could undergo crimping and deployment without damage. The presence of RGD in the ELR used to cover the stent supported full endothelialization in less than 2weeks in vitro. Minimal platelet adhesion and fibrin adsorption were detected after exposure to blood, as shown by immunostaining and scanning electron microscopy. These results prove the potential of this approach towards a new and more effective generation of covered stents which exclude the atherosclerotic plaque from the blood stream and have high biocompatibility, physiological hemocompatibility and reduced response of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: BIOFORGE, CIBER-BBN, Campus "Miguel Delibes" Centro I+D, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: igonzalez@bioforge.uva.es.
authors.forename: Israel González
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: de Torre
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: BIOFORGE, CIBER-BBN, Campus "Miguel Delibes" Centro I+D, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lisanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rongen
authors.affiliation: BIOFORGE, CIBER-BBN, Campus "Miguel Delibes" Centro I+D, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH, Aachen, Germany; Institut für Textiltechnik, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jockenhoevel
authors.affiliation: BIOFORGE, CIBER-BBN, Campus "Miguel Delibes" Centro I+D, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cabello
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering and Textile Implants, AME, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mela
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004549:Elastin; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015607:Stents; D013927:Thrombosis
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004549:Elastin
keywords: Elastin-like recombinamers; Endothelialization; Gel; Restenosis; Stent