title: Surface modification and endothelialization of biomaterials as potential scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering applications.
abstract: Surface modification and endothelialization of vascular biomaterials are common approaches that are used to both resist the nonspecific adhesion of proteins and improve the hemocompatibility and long-term patency of artificial vascular grafts. Surface modification of vascular grafts using hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol), zwitterionic polymers, heparin or other bioactive molecules can efficiently enhance hemocompatibility, and consequently prevent thrombosis on artificial vascular grafts. However, these modified surfaces may be excessively hydrophilic, which limits initial vascular endothelial cell adhesion and formation of a confluent endothelial lining. Therefore, the improvement of endothelialization on these grafts by chemical modification with specific peptides and genes is now arousing more and more interest. Several active peptides, such as RGD, CAG, REDV and YIGSR, can be specifically recognized by endothelial cells. Consequently, graft surfaces that are modified by these peptides can exhibit targeting selectivity for the adhesion of endothelial cells, and genes can be delivered by targeting carriers to specific tissues to enhance the promotion and regeneration of blood vessels. These methods could effectively accelerate selective endothelial cell recruitment and functional endothelialization. In this review, recent developments in the surface modification and endothelialization of biomaterials in vascular tissue engineering are summarized. Both gene engineering and targeting ligand immobilization are promising methods to improve the clinical outcome of artificial vascular grafts.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Weijin Road 92, Tianjin 300072, China. yakaifeng@tju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiangkui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yakai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jintang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Haixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xuefang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wenzhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials