| abstract |
A method of stimulating chemotaxis toward a prosthetic device is disclosed, which method comprises incorporating a chemotactic peptide of the formula B1-X-(AGVPGLGVG)n-(AGVPGFGVG)m-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; F is a peptide-forming residue of L-phenylalanine; L is a peptide-forming residue of L-leucine; 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 GVPGFGVG, GVPGLGVG, VPGFGVG, VPGLGVG, PGFGVG, PGLGVG, GFGVG, GLGVG, FGVG, LGVG, GVG, VG, G or a covalent bond; Y is AGVPGFGV, AGVPGLGV, AGVPGFG, AGVPGLG, AGVPGF, AGVPGL, AGVPG, AGVP, AGV, AG, A or a covalent bond; n is an integer from 0 to 50; m is an integer from 0 to 50; with the proviso that when both n and m are O, X and Y are selected so that the chemotactic peptide has at least 3 amino acid residues in the X and Y positions combined; into a surface of a prosthetic device. Prosthetic devices which have the property of enhancing invasion of fibroblasts and endothelial cells as a result of the chemotactic peptide are also disclosed. |