| abstract |
A method of stimulating chemotaxis toward a prosthetic device is disclosed, which method comprises incorporating a chemotactic peptide of the formula B1-X-(APGVGV)n-Y-B2 wherein A is a peptide-forming residue of L-alanine; P is a peptide-forming residue of L-proline; G is a peptide-forming residue of glycine; V is a peptide-forming residue of L-valine; B1 is H or a biocompatible N-terminal group; B2 is OH, OB3 where B3 is a non-toxic metal ion, or a biocompatible C-terminal group; X is PGVGV, GVGV, VGV, GV, V, or a covalent bond; Y is APGVG, APGV, APG, AP, A, or a covalent bond; and n is an integer from 1 to 100; into a surface of the prosthetic device. Prosthetic devices which have the property of enhancing invasion of elastic fiber synthesizing fibroblasts as a result of the chemotactic peptide are also disclosed. |