Formation of a Functional Endothelium on Vascular Grafts

The lack of a functional endothelial cell lining on artificial polymeric vascular grafts severely reduces their effectiveness in replacing small caliber (less than 6 mm) blood vessels. Techniques have now been developed to transplant autologous endothelial cells from one site in the body onto the surface of grafts prior to implantation. Pre-clinical animal trials provide evidence that grafts sodded with autologous, fat-derived, microvessel endothelial cells exhibit a stable, antithrombogenic lining of endothelium. The new endothelial cell lining exhibits morphologies identical with endothelium on native blood vessels. The effectiveness of endothelial cell sodding techniques in pre-clinical animal trials provides support for expanded clinical trials.