MODIFICATION BY RGD-PEPTIDES OF VASCULAR GRAFTS OF SMALL DIAMETER FROM POLYPAROLACTONE: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY RESULTS

Abstract. To endow the luminal surface of the vascular grafts of functional, we applied arginine-glycineaspartic acid (RGD)-containing peptides, which are the ligands for integrins.

The aim to study the effect of modification of small-diameter vascular grafts from polycaprolactone on the patency, speed and quality of endothelization of the internal surface after implantation of grafts into the abdominal part of the aorta of small laboratory animals by the RGD peptides.

Materials and methods.Vascular grafts diameter 2 mm were fabricated of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) using electrospinning following optional conjugation with RGD peptides by the method of carbodiimide binding. The surface morphology, physical-mechanical properties of PCL and PCL-RGD grafts was studied before implantation. Either PCL and PCL-RGD grafts were implanted into abdominal aorta of rats for 1, 3, 6, or 9 months following explantation along with the adjacent aortic regions and further histological and immunofluorescence examination.

Results. We found that immobilization of RGD peptides at the luminal surface did not alter structure and mechanical properties of PCL grafts. Primary patency of the RGD-treated grafts was 50% higher while the prevalence of inflammation was 2-fold lower compared to PCL grafts at all the time points. Moreover, we identified CD31+vWF+ cells at the luminal surface of RGD-PCL grafts as early as 1 month postimplantation in comparison with 3 months postimplantation in PCL grafts.

Conclusion. Immobilization of RGD peptides at the PCL grafts increases the primary grafts patency, induces rapid endothelialization and decreases granulomatous inflammation. 

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