Cindy Charbonneau

Stimulation of cell growth and resistance to apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells on a chondroitin sulfate/epidermal growth factor coating

Deficient healing after endovascular aneurysm repair is thought to be related to the pro-apoptotic environment in abdominal aortic aneurysms and inertness of the graft materials. A bioactive coating containing both chondroitin sulfate (CS) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) was developed in order to increase the growth and resistance to apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) on biomaterials surfaces. CS and EGF were covalently grafted using carbodiimide chemistry and the coating was characterized and optimized using ellipsometry, static contact angle and ToF-SIMS. Its potential to improve cell adhesion, growth and resistance to apoptosis was assessed in vitro with rat aortic VSMC. Results showed that CS and EGF immobilization allowed for the creation of a uniform coating that increased cell adhesion, growth and resistance to apoptosis in serum-free medium. Overall, CS and EGF possess great potential as bioactive anti-apoptotic mediators for vascular repair.

Chondroitin Sulfate and Epidermal Growth Factor Immobilization after Plasma Polymerization: A Versatile Anti‐Apoptotic Coating to Promote Healing Around Stent Grafts

Bioactive coatings constitute an interesting approach to enhance healing around implants, such as stent-grafts used in endovascular aneurysm repair. Three different plasma techniques, namely NH₃ plasma functionalization and atmospheric- or low-pressure plasma polymerization, are compared to create amino groups and covalently bind CS and EGF bioactive molecules on PET. The latter presents the greatest potential. CS + EGF coating is shown to strongly decrease cell apoptosis and cell depletion in serum-free medium, while increasing cell growth compared to unmodified PET. This versatile biomimetic coating holds promise in promoting vascular repair around stent-grafts, where resistance to apoptosis is a key issue.