Fibrin coating of polymer vascular graft does not reduce its thromboresistance

Aim. To evaluate biocompatibility along with adhesion and aggregation of platelets on the surface of uncoated and fibrin-coated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PHBV/PCL) small-diameter vascular grafts.

Materials and Methods. 4 mm diameter grafts were fabricated by electrospinning from PHBV/ PCL (1:2) blend dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro- 2-propanol. Inner wall of the grafts was produced using co-electrospinning of the polymer blend and collagen type I (5 mg/mL) from two different syringes. Fibrinogen was obtained from the blood of healthy donors by a cryoprecipitation procedure. Sterile polymer scaffolds were impregnated into a fibrinogen solution and immersed in a thrombin/calcium chloride blend for polymerization. To assess the biocompatibility of the grafts, primary human coronary artery endothelial cells were seeded on the luminal surface and counted under a fluorescence microscope after nuclear staining. Hemocompatibility was tested by incubation of the grafts with human platelet-rich plasma. Platelet aggregation was assessed using a platelet aggregation analyser. Surface morphology, platelet adhesion and activation were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.

Results. Fibrin coating promoted cell adhesion and proliferation and improved the graft biocompatibility as evidenced by a higher number of endothelial cells. Fibrin coating did not increase platelet aggregation, adhesion, and activation and therefore did not reduce the thromboresistance of vascular graft.

Conclusion. The fibrin modification of polymer grafts from PHBV/PCL blend and collagen type I improves the surface biocompatibility and does not reduce its thromboresistance.

1. Taggart DP. Current status of arterial grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2013;2(4):427-430. https://doi.org/10.3978/j.issn.2225-319X.2013.07.21

2. Fisher MB, Mauck RL. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: recent innovations and the transition to translation. Tissue Engineering Part B Reviews. 2013;19(1):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEB.2012.0723

3. Melchiorri AJ, Hibino N, Fisher JP. Strategies and techniques to enhance the in situ endothelialization of small-diameter biodegradable polymeric vascular grafts. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2013;19(4):292-307. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEB.2012.0577

4. Chen L, Yan C, Zheng Z. Functional polymer surfaces for controlling cell behaviors. Materialstoday. 2018;21(1):38-59. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2017.07.002. Accessed: April 27, 2020.

5. Arimura S, Kawahara K, Biswas KK, Abeyama K, Tabata M, Shimoda T, Ogomi D, Matsusaki M, Kato S, Ito T, Sugihara K, Akashi M, Hashiguchi T, Maruyama I. Hydroxyapatite formed on/in agarose gel induces activation of blood coagulation and platelets aggregation. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2007;81(2):456-61. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.30684

6. Ren X, Feng Y, Guo J, Wang H, Li Q, Yang J, Hao X, Lv J, Ma N, Li W. Surface modification and endothelialization of biomaterials as potential scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering applications. Chem Soc Rev. 2015;44(15):5680-5742. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4cs00483c

7. Jung F, Braune S, Lendlein A. Haemocompatibility testing of biomaterials using human platelets. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2013;53(1-2):97-115. https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-2012-1579

8. Medical devices. Biological evaluation of medical devices. Part 4. Selection of tests for interactions with blood: .natsional'nyy standart Rossiyskoy Federatsii GOST R ISO 10993-4-2009 : vzamen GOST 10993.4-99 : vveden 2010-09-01. Federal'noe agentstvo po tekhnicheskomu regulirovaniyu i metrologii. Moscow: Standartinform; 2010:IV. (In Russ.) Available at: http://docs.cntd.ru/document/1200078398. Accessed: 25 April,2020.

9. Kundu B, Schlimp CJ, Nürnberger S, Redl H, Kundu SC. Thromboelastometric and platelet responses to silk biomaterials. Sci Rep. 2014;4:4945. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep04945

10. Laloy J, Haguet H, Alpan L, Raichman D, Dogné JM, Lellouche JP. Impact of functional inorganic nanotubes f-INTs-WS2 on hemolysis, platelet function and coagulation. Nano Converg. 2018;5(1):31. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40580-018-0162-1. Accessed: 27 April, 2020.

11. Laloy J, Minet V, Alpan L, Mullier F, Beken S, Toussaint O, Lucas S, Dogné JM. Impact of Silver Nanoparticles on Haemolysis, Platelet Function and Coagulation. Nanobiomedicine (Rij). 2014;1:4. https://doi.org/10.5772/59346