P R Slowiaczek | PubMed Health

PubMed1996

Performance of small diameter synthetic vascular prostheses with confluent autologous endothelial cell linings.

Autologous grafts are superior to their synthetic counter-parts for grafting arteries smaller than 6-mm diameter both in terms of acute thrombogenicity and chronic intimal hyperplasia. Endothelial cell (EC) coating of the blood contacting surface may reduce thrombogenicity of synthetic small diameter vascular prostheses. In this study, the survival of EC monolayers on synthetic 4-mm diameter arterial prostheses over short-term implantations (< or = 6 weeks) was examined. Graft types examined were expanded polytetra-fluoroethylene (ePTFE) and microporous polyurethane (PU). Lumenal coverage with ECs was achieved by culturing ovine ECs on prostheses treated by either physical adsorption or covalent binding of ovine fibronectin (Fn). An ovine carotid interposition model was used to examine the performance of EC coated ePTFE and microporous PU over implantation periods of 1, 3, and 6 weeks. Outcomes assessed at the end of each experiment were graft patency, area covered by ECs, and thrombus free surface area (TFSA). Fn concentration, cell density at the time of coating and prostacyclin production in vitro were similar for both graft types. Occlusion occurred more frequently in unseeded grafts compared with EC coated grafts over 3 and 6 week implantation periods; however, the difference was not significant (p = 0.099). In prostheses precoated with ECs, approximately 40-60% of the surface area remained covered with endothelial-like cells following the first postoperative week. Recovery of EC layers occurred rapidly thereafter with 80-90% coverage at 3 weeks. TFSA remained low in comparison to EC cover in these prostheses until between 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively, suggesting a lag phase in recovery of EC function of seeded cells. In contrast, EC cover of unseeded prostheses only achieved 10-30% at 3 weeks, primarily by pannus EC ingrowth from the adjacent artery. TFSA of unseeded grafts increased in direct proportion to EC cover over time suggesting that there was no lag phase in function of these ingrowing cells.

Adsorption↗

PubMed1994

An experimental model of affinity cell separation.

Cell affinity separations are based on the selective attachment of cell phenotype using antibody or lectins specific for cell surface markers. The major physicochemical factors which influence ligand-mediated cell adhesion dynamics and the efficiency of cell affinity separation have been examined. Uniform cell detachment forces were generated with a parallel-plate flow cell (plate separation 100 microns, surface area 3 cm2). Hydrodynamic shear stress was used to measure cell adhesion strength and to separate cells on the basis of surface affinity. Human cell lines grown in tissue culture were separated on a flat derivatised glass immunoadsorbent which formed the floor of the flow chamber. Flow-cell residence time, detachment shear stress, temperature, and ligand density were shown to influence cell attachment probability. An understanding of the physical basis of ligand-mediated cell adhesion provided a rationale for optimisation of affinity cell separation. At room temperature attachment of positive cells was rapid (< 2 min) and adhesion strength was directly related to immunoadsorbent ligand density. Purity and recovery of enriched fractions were dependent on the separation shear stress and could be optimised using this parameter. Enrichment factors were greater than 100-fold, with at least 90% of positive cells recovered in enriched fractions. Enrichment purity and yields did not decline at higher loading densities (10(5) cells/cm2). Selective immunoadsorbent surface chemistry is a prerequisite for efficient affinity cell separation. Purity and recovery may be optimised by fractionating enriched and depleted cell populations with uniform fluid shear stress.

Antibody Affinity↗