Chondroitin Sulfate and Epidermal Growth Factor Immobilization after Plasma Polymerization: A Versatile Anti-Apoptotic Coating to Promote Healing Around Stent Grafts

Bioactive coatings constitute an interesting approach to enhance healing around implants, such as stent‐grafts used in endovascular aneurysm repair. Three different plasma techniques, namely NH3 plasma functionalization and atmospheric‐ or low‐pressure plasma polymerization, are compared to create amino groups and covalently bind CS and EGF bioactive molecules on PET. The latter presents the greatest potential. CS + EGF coating is shown to strongly decrease cell apoptosis and cell depletion in serum‐free medium, while increasing cell growth compared to unmodified PET. This versatile biomimetic coating holds promise in promoting vascular repair around stent‐grafts, where resistance to apoptosis is a key issue. A versatile bioactive coating of chondroitin sulfate and epidermal growth factor is described that enhances vascular smooth muscle cell growth on PET and improves their resistance to apoptosis. The coating can be implemented on many different types of surfaces, either polymeric or metallic, and possesses great potential for vascular applications such as stent grafts.