Ultrathin polymer monolayers for promotion of cell growth on bioprosthetic materials – Evolution of a new concept to improve long term performance of biologic heart vales
Issue title: 2nd International Conference on New Biomedical Materials, 5–8 April 2003, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. Manfred Dahm, Dept. of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. Tel: +49 6131 172735; Fax: +49 6131 176626; E‐mail: mdahm@mail. uni‐mainz.de.
Abstract: Reoperation of aldehyde tanned bioprotheses due to calcific degeneration remains their major drawback. Based on experiments studying mechanisms and factors that influence the time phase, extent and progression of calcification and evaluating the efficiency of anticalcification treatments and the effects of surface seeding with vital cells a new concept to avoid calcification emerged: masking aldehyde‐residues with a covalently bound polymer that supports surface cell seeding. Different covalently bound polymers were tested for their suitability to grow cells. Dense cell growth was achieved on some polymers but without correlation to physico‐chemical properties. Ultrathin coating of biological materials appears a promising approach to achieve lining with vital cells.
