Toward a rational design of surface textures promoting endothelialization.

Abstract

The safe integration of cardiovascular devices requires the sustainable coverage of their luminal surface by endothelial cells (ECs). The engineering of active surface textures has the potential to coordinate cellular adhesion and migration under the action of hemodynamic forces. We define a paradigm to rationally design textures maximizing EC activities as a function of the applied stresses. This is based on harnessing the adhesions established by ECs through fine-tuning of the vertical extend of the underlying surface nanotopography.