Rapid endothelialization induced by VEGF-mimetic peptide in small-diameter vascular scaffold

In this study, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mimetic peptide QKCMP was employed to develop a prototype small-diameter vascular graft (SDVG) with rapid endothelialization capability, and its pro-endothelialization effects were further elucidated. First, an SDVG prototype containing QKCMP was fabricated, and its physical and biological properties were systematically tested, including tensile performance, encapsulation efficiency, stability, and release profile. The prototype exhibited superior performance compared with conventional SDVGs. Subsequently, a Transwell co-culture system was establishedin vitroto evaluate the rapid endothelialization of QKCMP by assessing human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion. Compared with other groups, the QKCMP-containing SDVG significantly enhanced HUVEC growth and adhesion, reduced apoptosis, and induced cell-cycle arrest in the S and G2 phases. Finally, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that the VEGFA-VEGFR2 and Hippo signaling pathways were associated with QKCMP-mediated rapid endothelializationin vitro. Overall, incorporating QKCMP into the SDVG prototype effectively accelerates rapid endothelialization and reveals the potential molecular and signaling pathways through which QKCMP promotes the rapid proliferation of HUVECs.