Developments towards tissue-engineered, small-diameter arterial substitutes.

This article reviews the present state of small-diameter vascular substitution, the mechanisms of graft failure and the ongoing matters of graft design, with particular attention to small-caliber grafts. Tissue engineering of blood vessels with the mechanical properties of native vessels and with the antithrombotic properties required is really a great challenge. Recent advances, however, indicate that the goal of providing a tissue-engineered vascular graft that will remain patent in vivo for substantial periods of time, is achievable.

Effect of laser modified surface microtopochemistry on endothelial cell growth.

The introduction of microelectronics technology in the area of biological sciences has brought forth previously unforeseeable applications such as DNA or protein biochips, miniaturized, multiparametric biosensors for high performance multianalyte assays, DNA sequencing, biocomputers, and substrates for controlled cell growth (i.e. tissue engineering).

Study of two grafting methods for obtaining a 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane monolayer on silica surface.

In order to establish a 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) grafting procedure with limited number of APTESs noncovalently linked to the silica surface, two different methods of grafting (in acid-aqueous solution and in anhydrous solution) were compared. The grafted surface state was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The stability of the grafting was checked at different temperatures by AFM.

Mineralization of regenerated cellulose hydrogels induced by human bone marrow stromal cells.

The proliferation of cultured human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSC) on regenerated cellulose hydrogels was assessed. Regenerated cellulose hydrogels showed good rates of HBMSC proliferation, the cells exhibiting a flattened morphology, and after 22 days in culture, the cells had homogeneously colonized the surface of the materials. Moreover, since the early days in culture, between the surface of the materials and attached cells a continuous granulated hydroxyapatite layer was formed.