Researchers are using seaweed as a natural material to promote cell growth, prevent blood clot and improve the performance of synthetic arteriosclerosis treatments.
The University of Waterloo developed and tested a new approach to the treatment of small artificial blood vessels that are prone to clot formation.
Evelyn Yim is a chemical engineering professor and University Research Chair.
Fucoidan is made from seaweed and is used to modify blood vessels. Fucoidan is a drug used as an anti-coagulant.
When applied with a technique known as micropatterning, fucoidan promotes the growth of vascular cells around the inner surface of the graft, which reduces the chance of clot forming.
The potential benefits for patients include fewer hospital stays, better quality of life, and less risk of the reappearance of blocked arteries.
Yim said that a functional, off-the-shelf, small-diameter blood vessel transplant will help save lives. The important thing is that they will allow blood to flow freely.
When vessels in the heart become blocked, bypass surgery is needed to restore blood flow. Artificial vessels are often used when the patient's vessels are not available.
Restoring blood flow to vital organs and tissues is one of the uses of grafts.
There is a high chance that a clot will form on the inside of an arteries or vessels if synthetic graft material is not allowed to grow on the inside.
Yim plans to expand to large animal testing before moving to clinical trials after successfully testing the new technique on small animals.
The Department of Chemical Engineering at Waterloo and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Oregon Health and Science University collaborated on this project.
There is a paper on the work in the journal Bioactive Materials.
There is more information about Fucoidan and topography modification improved in situ endothelialization on acellular synthetic vessels. The title is "bioactmat."
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