Endothelialization on various segmented polyurethanes: cellular behavior and its substrate dependency

Endothelialization on artificial substrates is essential for providing vital function to artificial and hybrid vascular prostheses. The authors studied fundamental behaviors of endothelial cells (EC), including adhesion, spreading, migration, and growth, on various segmented polyurethanes (SPU) with a wide variety of wettability. Endothelialization has a synergistic action on these cellular behaviors that was quantitatively evaluated by phase contrast microscopy. Surface characteristics of SPU were analyzed by contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Adhesion, spreading, migration, growth, and endothelialization in vitro of bovine aortic EC on relatively hydrophobic SPU exceeded those on both a hydrophilic SPU, and a very hydrophobic siliconized one. Minimal interaction with EC was found for hydrophilic SPU. Adherent cells tended to be delaminated from siliconized SPU in a later culture period. The addition of a peptidyl antagonist of adhesive protein receptor inhibited adhesion of EC on SPU. These results suggest that surface characteristics, possibly regulating adsorption of adhesive proteins, are important factors in the development of vascular SPU prostheses.