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Appropriate mechanical properties and fast endothelialization of synthetic grafts are key to ensure long-term functionality of implants. We used a newly developed biostable polyurethane elastomer (TPCU) to engineer electrospun vascular scaffolds with promising mechanical properties (E-modulus: 4.8 ± 0.6 MPa, burst pressure: 3326 ± 78 mmHg), which were biofunctionalized with fibronectin (FN) and decorin (DCN). Neither uncoated nor biofunctionalized TPCU scaffolds induced major adverse immune responses except for minor signs of polymorph nuclear cell activation. The in vivo endothelial progenitor cell homing potential of the biofunctionalized scaffolds was simulated in vitro by attracting endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs). Although DCN coating did attract ECFCs in combination with FN (FN + DCN), DCN-coated TPCU scaffolds showed a cell-repellent effect in the absence of FN. In a tissue-engineering approach, the electrospun and biofunctionalized tubular grafts were cultured with primary-isolated vascular endothelial cells in a custom-made bioreactor under dynamic conditions with the aim to engineer an advanced therapy medicinal product. Both FN and FN + DCN functionalization supported the formation of a confluent and functional endothelial layer.

Abstract. Status of the JINR polarized ion source development is described. The source is under tests at the test-bench of LHEP, JINR. A charge-exchange plasma ionizer has been tested initially without a storage cell in the ionization region. An unpolarized deuterium ion beam with peak current of 160 mA, 23 keV energy, pulse duration of 100 s and repetition rate of 1 Hz has been extracted from the ionizer. With a free polarized atomic hydrogen beam injected into the ionizer a polarized proton beam with peak current of 1.4 mA has been obtained. The nearest plans for the source development include tests of the ionizer with the storage cell and tuning of the high frequency transition units installed in their operating position with a Breit-Rabi polarimeter.

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