Directed type IV collagen self-assembly on hydroxylated PTFE.

A method for the creation of a type IV collagen (CNIV) scaffold on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for endothelial cell attachment is described. This mimic for the basal lamina can be used in the seeding and retention of endothelial cells for blood contacting devices. The CNIV-PTFE production technique can be defined as three processes: (i) creation of a reactive superacidic/ionic PTFE surface with retained hydrophobic characteristics; (ii) activation of this surface via covalent attachment of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC); and (iii) conjugation of the EDC with human CNIV resulting in the covalent binding of protein to the PTFE surface.