Capture of Endothelial Cells Under Flow Using Immobilized Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

The study demonstrated that immobilized vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could effectively capture endothelial cells (ECs) under both static and flow conditions, including physiological shear stresses. The engineered surface retained VEGF's biological activity, promoting EC proliferation and prolonged activation of KDR signaling. The method showed high selectivity for ECs, successfully capturing them from complex fluids like whole blood, while non-ECs did not show significant binding. The findings suggested that VEGF immobilization could be a promising strategy for promoting endothelialization of vascular grafts or neovascularization of implanted tissues, with potential applications in vascular graft engineering and regenerative medicine.