Enhanced endothelialization of substrates modified with immobilized bioactive peptides

This in vitro study examined the effects of soluble basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta on bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cell interactions with surfaces containing the covalently-bound adhesive peptide tyrosine-isoleucine-glycine-serinearginine- glycine, or YIGSRG. The combination of adhesive peptide and soluble basic fibroblast growth factor (1 x 10(-9) g/ml) had no discernible effect on cell attachment, but resulted in significant increases in cell proliferation (p < 0.01; Duncan's multiple range test and Scheffé's test) and population motility (p < 0.05; Duncan's multiple range test) compared to all culture conditions examined in this study. Transforming growth factor-beta (1 x 10(-10) g/ml) had no stimulatory effect on cellular functions. The results of this study provide evidence that advanced biomaterials for vascular implantation could combine the influences of adhesive peptides and mitogenic chemical growth factors in order to promote endothelialization.