Objective The goal of this project was to develop a new concept for a small-diameter vascular prosthesis which interacts with the human biological system. This research developed and tested a special polymer type and coated it with cells from the human umbilical vein to encourage its compatibility with the body.THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL MAKE A DECISIVE CONTRIBUTION TO DEVOLOPING A POLYMER FOR USE AS A CARDIOVASCULAR IMPLANT.FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE TO COLONIZE A SYNTHETIC POLYMER DURABLY WITH HUMAN INTIMA CELLS BY BONDING A NATURAL ADHESION PROMOTER COVALENTLY TO THE POLYMER SURFACE. AS THE SUPPORT POLYMER, A SEMIPERMEABLE, BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYURETHANE FILM IS TO BE DEVELOPED.BEFORE THE BIOPOLYMER IS APPLIED, SUITABLE FUNCTIONAL GROUPS WILL BE GRAFTED TO THE SURFACE OF THE POLYETHER URETHANE BY PLASMA POLYMERIZATION.THE CONCEPT DESCRIBED WILL BE FEASIBLE ONLY BY COMBINING THE EXPERIENCE OF SEVERAL DISCIPLINES, SUCH AS INDUSTRIAL POLYMER PROCESSING, POLYMER CHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOCHEMISTRY.THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POLYETHER URETHANE FILM COLONIZED WITH ENDOTHELIAL CELLS WILL ALLOW THE EUROPEAN INDUSTRY TO PENETRATE FURTHER INTO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET FOR BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYMERS. THE "ARTIFICIAL VESSELS" NOW ON THE MARKET ARE ONLY OF LIMITED USEFULNESS AND HAVE TO BE IMPROVED. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrynatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencespolyurethanemedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants Programme(s) FP1-BRITE - Multiannual research and development programme (EEC) in the fields of basic technological research and the applications of new technologies (BRITE), 1985-1988 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator AACHEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY EU contribution No data Address Templergraben 55 52056 AACHEN Germany See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Deutsches Wollforschungsinstitut an der Technischen Hochschule Aachen eV Germany EU contribution No data Address Veltmanplatz 8 52062 Aachen See on map Total cost No data Ercros Spain EU contribution No data Address 28,Castello 28001 Madrid See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSIDADE DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Spain EU contribution No data Address Pazo de San Xerome - Plaza do Obradoiro s/n SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITE PIERRE ET MARIE CURIE - PARIS VI France EU contribution No data Address Place Jussieu 4 75252 PARIS See on map Total cost No data VYGON GmbH & Co KG Germany EU contribution No data Address Goebbelstraße 100 5100 Aachen See on map Total cost No data