Passivated hydrogel interface: Armor against foreign body response and inflammation in small-diameter vascular grafts

Mengxue Zhou; Zihao Wang; Mengyu Li; Qi Chen; Shengmin Zhang; Jianglin Wang

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.123010

Passivated hydrogel interface: Armor against foreign body response and inflammation in small-diameter vascular grafts

Biomaterials. 2024 Dec 20:317:123010. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.123010. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mengxue Zhou¹, Zihao Wang¹, Mengyu Li¹, Qi Chen¹, Shengmin Zhang¹, Jianglin Wang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China; NMPA Research Base of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China; NMPA Research Base of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39724767
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.123010

Abstract

The development of small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) still faces significant challenges, particularly in overcoming blockages within vessels. A key issue is the foreign-body response (FBR) triggered by the implants, which impairs the integration between grafts and native vessels. In this study, we applied an interfacial infiltration strategy to create a stable, hydrophilic, and passivated hydrogel coating on SDVGs. This coating effectively resisted FBR and improved integration between the grafts and host tissue. We also incorporated anthocyanins, an antioxidant, into the hydrogel network to mitigate oxidative stress and promote endothelialization. The hydrogel coating exhibited excellent stability, retaining its integrity during continuous flushing over 15 days. Anthocyanins were released in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing inflammation and enhancing vascularization in a mouse subcutaneous implantation model. In a rabbit carotid artery replacement model, the SDVGs exhibited rapid endothelialization, guided vascular remodeling, and inhibited calcification, showing strong potential for clinical application. This study presents a straightforward and effective approach to improve the patency rate, endothelialization, and anti-calcification properties of SDVGs by equipping them with a protective anti-FBR and anti-inflammation hydrogel layer.