Nonthrombogenic arterial reconstruction

Carboxyl groups of heparin were activated by carbodiimide (EDC) to allow stable covalent binding of heparin to various arterial reconstructions. Ammonium hydroxide treated Human Umbilical Veins Grafts (HUVG) outperform carotid arteries of goat, porcine and canine origin in both heparin loading and stability. In-vitro studies reveal that heparin bound HUVG retains its anticoagulative activity, showing promise towards the development of a nonthrombogenic small-caliber vascular prosthesis.