Use of autologous blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells at point-of-care to protect against implant thrombosis in a large animal model.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Titanium (Ti) is commonly utilized in many cardiovascular devices, e.g. as a component of Nitinol stents, intra- and extracorporeal mechanical circulatory assist devices, but is associated with the risk of thromboemboli formation. We propose to solve this problem by lining the Ti blood-contacting surfaces with autologous peripheral blood-derived late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) after having previously demonstrated that these EPCs adhere to and grow on Ti under physiological shear stresses and functionally adapt to their environment under flow conditions ex vivo. Autologous fluorescently-labeled porcine EPCs were seeded at the point-of-care in the operating room onto Ti tubes for 30 min and implanted into the pro-thrombotic environment of the inferior vena cava of swine (n = 8). After 3 days, Ti tubes were explanted, disassembled, and the blood-contacting surface was imaged. A blinded analysis found all 4 cell-seeded implants to be free of clot, whereas 4 controls without EPCs were either entirely occluded or partially thrombosed. Pre-labeled EPCs had spread and were present on all 4 cell-seeded implants while no endothelial cells were observed on control implants. These results suggest that late outgrowth autologous EPCs represent a promising source of lining Ti implants to reduce thrombosis in vivo.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Jantzen, AE; Lane, WO; Gage, SM; Jamiolkowski, RM; Haseltine, JM; Galinat, LJ; Lin, F-H; Lawson, JH; Truskey, GA; Achneck, HE

Published Date

  • November 2011

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 32 / 33

Start / End Page

  • 8356 - 8363

PubMed ID

  • 21840592

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC3215272

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1878-5905

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.07.066

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • Netherlands