The biomaterials implant field is a young health care activity requirng intensive input from engineers and materials and medical scientists. A major difficulty is found in acquiring a biocompatible surface in combination with the required physical properties (e.g., strength, elasticity, permeability and flexibility) stable over a long period of use in the body. A major advance in biomaterials technology would result from the ability to readily tailor the surface of preformed physically optimized implant devices to provide the proclivity for rapid overgrowth of a stable natual cell lining. Cell attachment factor proteins involved in the control of endothelial cell migration, attachment to substratum, and growth have been purified and characterized. This project is designed to modify the surface of biomaterials so that rapid enodthelial cell surface overgrowth is promoted. Rapid overgrowth should decrease thrombosis, increase patency and strengthen blood-surface interfacing. In our Phase I studies, we provided a basic proof-of-concept for covalently coupling cell attachment factors to various plastic surfaces. A plan is proposed to optimize and laboratory test these materials in vitro for the promotion of rapid endothelial cell (bovine and human) surface overgrowth. A canine model will be used to evaluate the in vivo biocompatibility of these materials.
