High Density Plasma Vapor Deposition

EXPOSURE OF BLOOD TO AN ARTIFICIAL SURFACE USUALLY LEADS TO THE ACTIVATION OF THE INTRINSIC PATHWAY OF THE PLASMA COAGULATION CASCADE AND TO THE ACTIVATION OF PLATELETS, WHICH ARE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE FORMATION OF A THROMBUS, OR BLOOD CLOT. A POPULAR TECHNIQUE FOR IMPARTING THROMBORESISTANCE TO BIOMATERIALS INVOLCES THE ENDOTHELIALIZATION (ENDOTHELIAL SEEDING) OF BIOMATERIAL SURFACES. SUCCESSFU ENDOTHELIALIZATION OF BIOMEDICAL IMPLANTS CAN IMPROVE BIOCOMPATIBILITY AND AID IN REDUCING ANTIGENICITY AND THROMBOGENICITY OF VASCULAR GRAFTS. THE TECHNIQUES OF PRODUCING PRECULTURED ENDOTHELIALIZED SURFACES, AND SEEDING MATERIAL WITH BLOOD CONTAINING ENDOTHELIAL CELLS, REQUIRES A SPECIALIZED BIOMATERIAL SURFACE TO SUPPORT CELL ADHESION. RESEARCHERS ARE USING PLASMA SURFACE MODIFICATION TECHNOLOGY TO INCORPORATE HYDROXYL FUNCTIONAL GROUPS ONTO THE POLYMERIC BIOIMPLANT SURFACE. THE CELL-BINDING PEPTIDE, GLY-ARG-GLY-ASP (GRGD) OR ARG-GLU-ASP-VAL (REDV), IS BEING IMMOBILIZED TO THE MODIFIED BIOIMPLANT SURFACE WITH TRESYLCHLORIDE CHEMISTRY. THE APPROACH CREATES A BIOMATERIALS SUBSTRATE TO SUPPORT ENDOTHELIAL-SPECIFIC ADHESION AND PROLIFERATION AND FURTHER IMPARTING THROMBORESISTANCE TO BIOIMPLANTS.