Method of treating a synthetic or naturally occuring surface with

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel method of treating a synthetic or naturally occurring implant, such as a vascular graft, intended for implantation in a human patient, comprising obtaining human microvascular rich tissue from that patient; separating microvascular endothelial cells from that tissue; and placing said microvascular endothelial cells onto said implant to provide at least about 50% confluence of said cells on the surface of said implant to be treated. In the preferred embodiment, the microvascular rich tissue is perinephric fat, which is obtained from the donor and subjected to a digestive separation process to provide an abundant supply of microvascular endothelial cells. In the preferred embodiment, these microvascular endothelial cells are placed onto the implant by suspending them in a protein (plasma) containing physiologic saline solution, which is incubated on the graft until the endothelial cells either adhere to the graft surface or clot within the protein solution. An efficient method is therefore provided which will permit a patient to donate excess microvascularized tissue which may be used to procure autologous endothelial cells which are subsequently used to treat a graft or other implant to provide at least 50% confluence while his related surgical procedure is in progress.