Fucoidan molecule from seaweed and topography modification improved endothelialization on off-the-self synthetic vascular grafts
We have developed a surface modification strategy using fucoidan, a polysaccharide molecule extracted from seaweeds, and luminal topography to enable fast in situ endothelialization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) small diameter vascular graft. In our work published in Bioactive Materials, using a clinically relevant rabbit model, in situ endothelialization was observed throughout the entire lumen of 1.7 mm inner diameter modified grafts, and the 4-week graft patency was also increased.