Researchers have isolated a seaweed-derived material that enhances the probability of favorable outcomes in coronary artery bypass procedures. The discovery was detailed in Bioactive Materials.
During a bypass operation, surgeons restore blood flow to regions of the heart that are starved by blocked vessels. They achieve this by grafting additional tiny vessels, but those grafts can also face blockage from clots, threatening the long-term success of the procedure.
Teams from the University of Waterloo developed a seaweed-based substance that encourages vascular cell growth and strengthens the walls of these grafts. The compound, fucoidan, exhibits a microstructure that mirrors certain anticoagulant properties similar to heparin, a medication commonly used to prevent clotting.
Applied as a thin inner lining on the transplanted vessel, the fucoidan layer is deposited through micropatterning—a technique borrowed from electronics manufacturing. This precise surface engineering reduces post-operative complications and lowers the risk of recurrent occlusion, potentially reducing the need for additional surgeries in the future. The approach represents a promising intersection of biomaterials science and cardiovascular therapy, with meaningful implications for graft durability and patient recovery (Bioactive Materials).