A new slippery coating for vascular grafts to prevent blockages and infections
Official title: Slippery, Omniphobic Coating to Prevent Thrombosis and Biofilm Formation on Peripheral Vascular Grafts
Funded at Cerulean Scientific INC. · NIH-11326089 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a special coating for blood vessel grafts to help them stay open and free from infection in patients with severe circulation problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cerulean Scientific INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lancaster, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,394,084 |
| NIH project number | 4R44HL172473-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326089 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant to patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) or peripheral artery disease (PAD) who may require synthetic vascular grafts.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require vascular grafts or those whose condition is not related to graft failure would not directly benefit from this specific technology.
What this research studies
Many patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) need surgery to improve blood flow, often using synthetic grafts when their own veins are not suitable. Unfortunately, these grafts frequently fail due to blood clots and infections, leading to serious complications like amputation. Our team is creating a unique 'slippery' coating that prevents blood components and bacteria from sticking to the graft surface. This innovative coating aims to keep the grafts clear and functional for much longer, improving patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this coating could significantly reduce graft failures, lower the risk of amputations, and improve the long-term health and quality of life for patients receiving vascular grafts.
How similar studies have gone: While current technologies have not fully addressed these challenges, preliminary data from this team show promising results in resisting occlusion and pathogen colonization on vascular devices.
Where this research is happening
-
Cerulean Scientific INC.
Lancaster, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcfarland, Todd — Cerulean Scientific INC.
- Study coordinator: Mcfarland, Todd
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.