Chemical activation and changes in surface morphology of poly(ε-caprolactone) modulate VEGF responsiveness of human...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cardiovascular Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Coronary heart disease patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with stenting face post-operative complications like restenosis and thrombosis.
• Effective re-endothelialization is critical for wound healing after cardiovascular implant surgery.
• There is a need for advanced biomaterials that promote endothelial cell adhesion and functional recovery post-stenting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate chemical polymer modifications for improved endothelialization.
• To investigate poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and its activated forms, surface morphology, and matrix protein precoating effects on endothelialization.
• To assess the impact of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) on endothelial cell proliferation on modified PCL surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Chemical modification and plasma activation of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) surfaces.
• In vitro characterization of endothelial cell responses using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) for viability and adhesion assays.
• Application of VEGF as a stimulus to promote endothelial cell proliferation on polymer surfaces.

Main Results:

• Plasma chemical activation of PCL surfaces significantly impacts endothelial cell adhesion and viability.
• Surface morphology and precoating with matrix proteins influence endothelialization.
• VEGF stimulation effectively boosts endothelial cell proliferation on modified PCL, particularly on plasma-activated surfaces.

Conclusions:

• Plasma chemical activation of PCL, combined with VEGF stimulation, represents a promising strategy to enhance in vitro endothelialization.
• This study contributes novel insights into optimizing polymer surface properties for improved cardiovascular implant performance.
• The findings support the development of advanced biomaterials for better post-stenting healing and reduced complications.