Topic details
| Topic | Biomimetic Fibrin-Based Coatings Enriched with Glycosaminoglycans and Peptides for Enhanced Endothelialization and Hemocompatibility of Vascular Implants |
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| Supervisor | Tomáš Riedel, Ph.D. |
| Consultant | Ing. Zuzana Riedelová, Ph.D. |
| Department | Chemistry and Physics of Surfaces and Biointerfaces |
| Description | The long-term success of vascular implants, particularly coronary and neurovascular stents, critically depends on rapid restoration of a functional endothelial layer on their surface. Insufficient or delayed endothelialization substantially increases the risk of thrombosis, inflammation, and restenosis, representing one of the primary clinical challenges associated with current endovascular interventions. The aim of this PhD thesis is to develop a new generation of bioactive, hemocompatible coatings that mimic natural vascular healing processes and provide a unique combination of low thrombogenicity, anti-inflammatory properties, and active stimulation of endothelial growth. The research will focus on fibrin coatings produced through controlled polymerization directly on implant surfaces, which will be subsequently functionalized with sulfated glycosaminoglycans (e.g., heparin, fucoidan, hyaluronic acid) and synthetic peptides promoting wound healing. Fibrin serves as a biomimetic matrix capable of binding, stabilizing, and presenting bioactive molecules in a form similar to that found in the early phases of vascular wound healing. The PhD candidate will optimize fibrin polymerization parameters, tune coating morphology and thickness, and introduce bioactive motifs via specific covalent conjugation strategies, including modern bio-orthogonal click chemistries. The work will involve comprehensive structural and chemical characterization using AFM, SEM, confocal microscopy, FTIR-ATR, and SPR. Coatings will be evaluated using hemocompatibility assays (coagulation activation, platelet and complement activation), anti-inflammatory assessments (macrophage adhesion, M1/M2 polarization, cytokine release), and detailed endothelialization studies. These will include static and dynamic endothelial cell seeding, migration assays, proliferation analyses, and characterization of endothelial markers such as CD31, VE-cadherin, vWF, and eNOS. The expected outcome of the PhD thesis is a fully characterized multifunctional coating that accelerates endothelial regeneration while suppressing thrombosis and inflammation, thereby addressing key limitations of current vascular implant technologies. The candidate will obtain extensive expertise across macromolecular chemistry, surface biofunctionalization, materials characterization, cell–material interactions, hemocompatibility, and advanced microscopy, providing a strong foundation for future research or industrial careers in biomaterials and regenerative medicine. |
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