MEDICAL DEVICE WITH COATING THAT PROMOTES ENDOTHELIAL CELL ADHERENCE
The invention relates to a method for healing blood vessels by stimulating the formation of a confluent endothelial autologous cell layer in vivo on an implantable metallic stent having a lumen and a luminal surface, and an exterior surface. More specifically, the method includes implanting the stent with a coating in a patient in need of thereof; wherein the coating includes one or more layers of a matrix covalently adherent on said luminal and exterior surface of said stent containing one or more pharmaceutical substances on said exterior surface and a therapeutically effective amount of a single type of antibody, antibody fragments or combinations thereof being compatible to binding selectively to a specific cell surface antigen of circulating autologous endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood. In addition, genetically engineered endothelial progenitor cells can be captured on said luminal surface of stent in vivo, to proliferate to form rapidly a confluent endothelium in situ.
1 . An artificial heart valve having a coating, wherein the coating comprises a matrix, the matrix comprising a plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof and wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof specifically bind to a cell surface antigen of endothelial progenitor cells or endothelial cells.
2 . The artificial, heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the cell surface antigen is CD34, CD45, CD31, Flk-1, Tie-2 or E-selectin.
3 . The artificial heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof are immobilized to the matrix.
4 . The artificial heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof are covalently attached to the matrix.
5 . The artificial heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof are monoclonal.
6 . The artificial heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof are polyclonal.
7 . The artificial heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises a plurality of Fab or F(ab′) 2 fragments.
8 . The artificial heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof specifically bind to different cell surface antigens.
9 . The artificial heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof capture endothelial progenitor cells and/or endothelial cells in vivo when the artificial heart valve is implanted into a subject.
10 . The artificial heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises a polymer.
11 . The artificial heart valve of claim 10 , wherein the polymer is bioabsorbable.
12 . The artificial heart valve of claim 10 , wherein the polymer is synthetic.
13 . The artificial heart valve of claim 12 , wherein the synthetic polymer is polyurethane, segmented polyurethane-urea/heparin, poly-lactic acid, cellulose ester, polyethylene glycol, polytetrafluoroethylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or combinations thereof.
14 . The artificial heart valve of claim 10 , wherein the polymer is natural.
15 . The artificial heart valve of claim 14 , wherein, the natural polymer is collagen, laminin, heparin, fibrin, cellulose, elastin, or combinations thereof.
16 . A venous valve having a coating, wherein the coating comprises a matrix, the matrix comprising a plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof and wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof specifically bind to a cell surface antigen of endothelial progenitor cells or endothelial cells.
17 . The venous valve of claim 16 , wherein the cell surface antigen is CD34, CD45, CD31, Flk-1, Tie-2 or E-selectin.
18 . The venous valve of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof are immobilized to the matrix.
19 . The venous valve of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of antibodies, antibody fragments or combinations thereof are monoclonal.
20 . The venous valve of claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises a polymer.