Alteration of leukocyte motility on plasma-conditioned prosthetic biomaterial, ePTFE, via a flow-responsive cell adhesion molecule, CD43

Promoting Angiogenesis Using Immune Cells for Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts

Implantable tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) usually trigger the host reaction which is inextricably linked with the immune system, including blood-material interaction, protein absorption, inflammation, foreign body reaction, and so on. With remarkable progress, the immune response is no longer considered to be entirely harmful to TEVGs, but its therapeutic and impaired effects on angiogenesis and tissue regeneration are parallel. Although the implicated immune mechanisms remain elusive, it is certainly worthwhile to gain detailed knowledge about the function of the individual immune components during angiogenesis and vascular remodeling. This review provides a general overview of immune cells with an emphasis on macrophages in light of the current literature. To the extent possible, we summarize state-of-the-art approaches to immune cell regulation of the vasculature and suggest that future studies are needed to better define the timing of the activity of each cell subpopulation and to further reveal key regulatory switches.

Recent Developments in Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactones for Biomedical Applications

Aliphatic polyesters prepared by ring-opening polymerization of lactones are now used worldwide as bioresorbable devices in surgery (orthopaedic devices, sutures, stents, tissue engineering, and adhesion barriers) and in pharmacology (control drug delivery). This review presents the various methods of the synthesis of polyesters and tailoring the properties by proper control of molecular weight, composition, and architecture so as to meet the stringent requirements of devices in the medical field. The effect of structure on properties and degradation has been discussed. The applications of these polymers in the biomedical field are described in detail.