Adsorption of basic fibroblast growth factor onto Dacron vascular prosthesis and its biological efficacy

Adsorption of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) onto a plain fabric Dacron vascular prosthesis (Micron, InterVascular Co., Ltd., Clearwater, FL, U.S.A.) and its release properties from the graft were examined using labeled bFGF, and its biological efficacy was evaluated in an animal study. In an in vitro study, 6 pieces of a Dacron graft were soaked in [(125)I]-bFGF solution for 30 min. Then these pieces were soaked in 500 ml saline solution for 15 days, and the radioactivity of each piece was counted at various times. The initial amount of adsorbed bFGF was 2.48 ng/cm2. At 24 h, 41% of the adsorbed bFGF was released and 59% remained. On the third day 55% remained, on the seventh day 52%, and on the 15th day 50% remained on the Dacron surface. Using the atmospheric glow discharge (APG) plasma treatment to render hydrophilic properties, no significant difference between plasma-treated grafts and non-plasma-treated grafts regarding the adsorption of bFGF was observed. In an in vivo study, 6 Dacron pieces adsorbed with bFGF were implanted in the subcutaneous layer of 2 dogs and removed 5 days after implantation. Six Dacron pieces without bFGF were also implanted as a control into the 2 dogs. Fibroblast migration with capillary ingrowth was observed in the specimens with bFGF compared to the controls. These results indicate that the simple adsorption of bFGF onto Dacron fabric is a useful method for the acceleration of host cell migration and capillary ingrowth into Dacron fabric vascular prostheses.