Urokinase-immobilization suppresses inflammatory responses to polyurethane tubes implanted in rabbit muscles

Synthesis and characterization of polycaprolactone urethane hollow fiber membranes as small diameter vascular grafts

The design of bioresorbable synthetic small diameter (<6mm) vascular grafts (SDVGs) capable of sustaining long-term patency and endothelialization is a daunting challenge in vascular tissue engineering. Here, we synthesized a family of biocompatible and biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) urethane macromers to fabricate hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) as SDVG candidates, and characterized their mechanical properties, degradability, hemocompatibility, and endothelial development. The HFMs had smooth surfaces and porous internal structures. Their tensile stiffness ranged from 0.09 to 0.11N/mm and their maximum tensile force from 0.86 to 1.03N, with minimum failure strains of approximately 130%. Permeability varied from 1 to 14×10(-6)cm/s, burst pressures from 1158 to 1468mmHg, and compliance from 0.52 to 1.48%/100mmHg. The suture retention forces ranged from 0.55 to 0.81N. HFMs had slow degradation profiles, with 15 to 30% degradation after 8weeks. Human endothelial cells proliferated well on the HFMs, creating stable cell layer coverage. Hemocompatibility studies demonstrated low hemolysis (<2%), platelet activation, and protein adsorption. There were no significant differences in the hemocompatibility of HFMs in the absence and presence of endothelial layers. These encouraging results suggest great promise of our newly developed materials and biodegradable elastomeric HFMs as SDVG candidates.

Development and evaluation of elastomeric hollow fiber membranes as small diameter vascular graft substitutes

Engineering of small diameter (<6mm) vascular grafts (SDVGs) for clinical use remains a significant challenge. Here, elastomeric polyester urethane (PEU)-based hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) are presented as an SDVG candidate to target the limitations of current technologies and improve tissue engineering designs. HFMs are fabricated by a simple phase inversion method. HFM dimensions are tailored through adjustments to fabrication parameters. The walls of HFMs are highly porous. The HFMs are very elastic, with moduli ranging from 1-4MPa, strengths from 1-5MPa, and max strains from 300-500%. Permeability of the HFMs varies from 0.5-3.5×10(-6)cm/s, while burst pressure varies from 25 to 35psi. The suture retention forces of HFMs are in the range of 0.8 to 1.2N. These properties match those of blood vessels. A slow degradation profile is observed for all HFMs, with 71 to 78% of the original mass remaining after 8weeks, providing a suitable profile for potential cellular incorporation and tissue replacement. Both human endothelial cells and human mesenchymal stem cells proliferate well in the presence of HFMs up to 7days. These results demonstrate a promising customizable PEU HFMs for small diameter vascular repair and tissue engineering applications.

Hemocompatibility evaluation of small elastomeric hollow fiber membranes as vascular substitutes

One of the main challenges for clinical implementation of small diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) is their limited hemocompatibility. Important design specifications for such grafts include features that minimize the long-term risks of restenosis, fouling, and thrombus formation. In our lab, we have developed elastomeric hollow fiber membranes (HFMs), using a phase inversion method, as candidates for SDVGs. Here, we present our results for in vitro hemocompatibility testing of our HFM under flow and static conditions. Our results showed that the polymer-based HFMs do not damage the integrity of human red blood cells (RBCs) as shown by their low hemolytic extent (less than 2%). When analyzed for blood cell lysis using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity as an indicator, no significant differences were observed between blood exposed to our HFMs and uncoagulated blood. Analysis of protein adsorption showed a low concentration of proteins deposited on the surfaces of HFM after 24 h. Platelet adhesion profiles using human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) showed that a low level of platelets adhered to the HFMs after 24 h, indicating minimal thrombotic potential. Under the majority of conditions, no significant differences were observed between medical-grade polymers and our HFMs. Eventual optimization of hemocompatible elastomeric HFM vessel grafts could lead to improved tissue vascularization as well as vascularized, tissue-engineered scaffolds for organ repair.

Improvement of blood compatibility on polysulfone-polyvinylpyrrolidone blend films as a model membrane of dialyzer by physical adsorption of recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (ART-123)

ART-123 is a recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (hTM) with potent anticoagulant activity, and is available for developing antithrombogenic surfaces by immobilization. We focused on improving blood compatibility on the dialyzer surface by the physical adsorption of ART-123 as a safe yet simple method without using chemical reagents. The physical adsorption mechanism and anticoagulant activities of adsorbed hTM on the surface of a polysulfone (PSF) membrane containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a model dialyzer were investigated in detail. The PVP content of the PSF-PVP films was saturated at 20 wt% after immersion in Tris-HCl buffer, even with the addition of over 20 wt% PVP. The surface morphology of the PSF-PVP films was strongly influenced by the PVP content, because PVP covered the outermost surface of the PSF-PVP films. The adsorption speed of hTM slowed dramatically with increasing PVP content up to 10 wt%, but the maximum adsorption amount of hTM onto the PSF-PVP film surface was almost the same, regardless of the PVP content. The PSF-PVP film with the physically adsorbed hTM showed higher protein C activity as compared to the PSF film, it showed excellent blood compatibility due to the protein C activity and the inhibition properties of platelet adhesion. The physical adsorption of hTM can be useful as a safe yet simple method to improve the blood compatibility of a dialyzer surface.

Physical adsorption of human thrombomodulin (ART-123) onto polymeric biomaterials for developing an antithrombogenic blood-contacting material

Human thrombomodulin (hTM) is an endothelial cell-associated protein with potent natural anticoagulant activity by converting thrombin from a procoagulant protease to an anticoagulant. ART-123 is a recombinant soluble hTM (amino acid residues 1-498), and we focused on the physical adsorption of ART-123 onto a polymeric biomaterial surface to develop an antithrombogenic blood-contacting material with preventing the denaturation of hTM and the remaining chemical reagents. The adsorption of hTM onto polysulfone (PSF) films was analyzed quantitatively by quartz crystal microbalance analysis. The adsorption constant and the maximum adsorption amount, calculated by the assumption of a Langmuir-type adsorption, showed that hTM adsorbed with a relatively weak interaction onto the PSF film. The hydrophilic protein lysozyme also showed a Langmuir-type monolayer adsorption, although hydrophobic catalase and fibrinogen showed multilayer adsorption accompanying the denaturation. The physically adsorbed hTM showed high coenzymatic activity for the activation of protein C, as well as anticoagulant activity. Furthermore, the surface wettability of the PSF film was easily controllable by the physical adsorption of hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactive proteins. The physical adsorption of hTM or bioactive proteins onto polymeric biomaterials will be instrumental for developing an antithrombogenic blood-contacting biomaterial, and for controlling the surface properties of biomaterials.

Novel thromboresistant materials

The development of a clinically durable small-diameter vascular graft as well as permanently implantable biosensors and artificial organ systems that interface with blood, including the artificial heart, kidney, liver, and lung, remain limited by surface-induced thrombotic responses. Recent breakthroughs in materials science, along with a growing understanding of the molecular events that underlay thrombosis, has led to the design and clinical evaluation of a variety of biologically active coatings that inhibit components of the coagulation pathway and platelet responses by surface immobilization or controlled release of bioactive agents. This report reviews recent progress in generating synthetic thromboresistant surfaces that inhibit (1) protein and cell adsorption, (2) thrombin and fibrin formation, and (3) platelet activation and aggregation.