ePTFE functionalization for medical applications

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a ubiquitous material used in implants and medical devices general due to its high biocompatibility inertness; blood vessels, heart, jawbone, nose, eyes, or abdominal wall can benefit from properties the case of disease injury. Its expanded version, ePTFE, an improved version PTFE with better mechanical properties, which extend applications. However, ePTFE often lack improvement such as antibacterial, antistenosis, tissue integration properties. Improvements these by several strategies functionalization for purposes are discussed this review. Covalent non-covalent bonding reviewed, including more specifically chemical impregnation, surface modification, autologous vascularization, cell seeding, mainly improving described