Acellular vascular scaffolds modified by ammonium phosphate zwitterions can effectively resist thrombosis and promote endothelialization in vitro

Due to limited availability of autologous blood vessels (blood vessels from the same recipient used for vascular transplantation materials) and inadequate growth ability of non-autologous blood vessels (artificial blood vessel transplantation materials), more and more attention has been paid to tissue engineering blood vessels. In this study, we constructed an ammonium phosphate zwitterion modified acellular vascular scaffold with highly biocompatible bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells as the inner layer of a new vascular transplantation material. The vascular acellular scaffolds were modified by a simple method-co-precipitation method. The platelet adhesion test, hemolysis test, recalcification test and cytotoxicity of acellular vascular scaffolds in vitro were evaluated. Ammonium phosphate zwitterions modified endothelial progenitor cells on the surface of acellular scaffolds with concave and convex structure on the surface of natural vascular lumen can be effectively promoted by improving anticoagulant activity. Modified acellular scaffolds have similar mechanical properties to natural blood vessels and can effectively construct endothelialization in vitro. The results of this study provide a preliminary exploration for the modification of vascular acellular scaffolds to achieve anti-thrombosis and endothelialization in vitro.