Inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation with implanted

Abstract

A composition and method are provided for inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation following injury to the endothelial cell lining of a blood vessel such as resulting from angioplasty, vascular bypass surgery or organ transplantation. The composition is a matrix such as a biodegradable hydrogel made of a synthetic polymer, protein or polysaccharide seeded with vascular endothelial cells which can be xenografts, allografts or autografts, or genetically engineered cells. Attachment of cells to the matrix can be enhanced by coating with collagen, laminin, fibronectin, fibrin, basement membrane components or attachment peptides. Biologically active compounds such as anti-inflammatory agents may also be contained in the matrix. In the method, the matrix containing endothelial cells is implanted in a patient at a site adjacent the injury such as by wrapping the matrix around the blood vessel. The endothelial cells secrete products that diffuse into surrounding tissue but do not migrate to the endothelial cell lining of the blood vessel. The endothelial cells may be obtained by biopsy of the patient into which the matrix is implanted and the cells can be cultured in the matrix in vitro and then implanted in vivo.