Citric acid-based elastomers provide a biocompatible interface for vascular grafts

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A 2010-04, Vol.93A (1), p.314-324
• Main Authors: Kibbe, Melina R., Martinez, Janet, Popowich, Daniel A., Kapadia, Muneera R., Ahanchi, Sadaf S., Aalami, Oliver O., Jiang, Qun, Webb, Antonio R., Yang, Jian, Carroll, Timothy, Ameer, Guillermo A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Blood Vessels - diagnostic imaging; Blood Vessels - drug effects; Blood Vessels - pathology; bypass graft; Citrates - pharmacology; Elastomers - pharmacology; endothelial cell; Endothelium, Vascular - diagnostic imaging; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; ePTFE; Inflammation - pathology; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - pathology; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - pathology; neointimal hyperplasia; polymer; Polymers - pharmacology; prosthetic; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Sus scrofa; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Thrombosis - pathology; Ultrasonography; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels
• ISSN: 1549-3296; 1552-4965; 1552-4965
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.32537

Prosthetic vascular bypass grafting is associated with poor long‐term patency rates. Herein, we report on the mid‐term performance of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular grafts modified with a citric acid‐based biodegradable elastomer. Through a spin‐shearing method, ePTFE grafts were modified by mechanically coating a layer of poly(1,8 octanediol citrate) (POC) onto the luminal nodes and fibrils of the ePTFE. Control and POC‐ePTFE grafts were implanted into the porcine carotid artery circulation as end‐to‐side bypass grafts. Grafts were assessed by duplex ultrasonography, magnetic resonance angiography, and digital subtraction contrast angiography and were all found to be patent with no hemodynamically significant stenoses. At 4 weeks, POC‐ePTFE grafts were found to be biocompatible and resulted in a similar extent of neointimal hyperplasia as well as leukocyte and monocyte/macrophage infiltration as control ePTFE grafts. Furthermore, POC supported endothelial cell growth. Lastly, scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of POC on the ePTFE grafts at 4 weeks. Thus, these data reveal that surface modification of blood‐contacting surfaces with POC results in a biocompatible surface that does not induce any untoward effects or inflammation in the vasculature. These findings are important as they will serve as the foundation for the development of a drug‐eluting vascular graft. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010