PTFE Stent Membrane Based on the Electrospinning Technique and Its Potential for Replacing ePTFE

Expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (ePTFE), obtained by the paste extrusion-stretching method, is a commonly used stent membrane material for the treatment of arterial stenosis or aneurysm in clinical practice. However, the structure of ePTFE is nonfibrous, which is not friendly to cells, and the equipment consumes a lot of energy and often requires the use of flammable and toxic lubricants. In this study, electrospinning was used to prepare PTFE vascular stent membranes, following plasma treatment, dopamine, and heparin grafting to obtain an anticoagulant surface. The morphology, structure, axial and circumferential tensile strength, porosity, water penetration pressure, and heparin-releasing behaviors of the samples were studied at first. Then, the experiments of blood compatibility, cytotoxicity, and