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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Wet Chemistry and Peptide Immobilization on Polytetrafluoroethylene for Improved Cell-adhesion
Published on: August 15, 2016
Nitrogen-rich plasma-polymerized coatings on PET and PTFE surfaces improve endothelial cell attachment and resistance
Anne Gigout1, Juan-Carlos Ruiz, Michael R Wertheimer
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), 1100 boulevard Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Abstract:
Low seeding efficiency and poor cell retention under flow-induced shear stress limit the effectiveness of in vitro endothelialization strategies for small-diameter vascular grafts. Primary-amine-rich plasma-polymerized coatings (PPE:N) deposited using low- and atmospheric-pressure plasma discharges on PET and PTFE are evaluated for their ability to improve endothelial cells' kinetics and strength of attachment. PPE:N coatings increase cell adhesion and adhesion rate, spreading, focal adhesion, and resistance to flow-induced shear compared with bare and gelatin-coated PET and PTFE. In particular, about 90% of the cells remain on coated surfaces after 1 h exposure to shear. These coatings, therefore, appear as a promising versatile approach to improve cell seeding strategies for vascular grafts.
