TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Page

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S ................................................................................................. iv

L IS T O F T A B L E S ........ ............................................................... .......... .. ............. ...... v iii

LIST OF FIGURES ......... ......................... ...... ........ ............ ix

ABSTRACT .............. ................. .......... .............. xi

CHAPTERS

1 IN TR OD U CTION ....................................... ...... .. ........ .... .............. .

2 B A C K G R O U N D ............... ......... .............................. ........ ........ ................ .4

 C contact G u id an ce ....................................................................... 4
 Surface Topography. ..................................... ............. 4
 Su rface C h em istry .................................................... .. ... .......... .. ................ 11
 Endothelial Cells.................................. .............. 14
 Vascular Grafts ......................................... 16
 C ell A dhesion............................ .................... 19
 Silicones...................... ....................... .............. 22
 Use as a Biomaterial ........................................ 23
 Su rface E n ergy ................................................................. 2 5
 M echanical Properties............................. .............. 27

3 CHARACTERIZATION OF SILICONE ELASTOMER SUBSTRATES....................31

 In tro d u ctio n ....................................................................... 3 1
 M materials ..................................... .................... 31
 M e th o d s................................................................................................... .............. ...... 3 3
 Elastomer Preparation ..... ........... ........ .......... ........33
 M odulus D eterm nation ........................................................ ..................... 34
 Preparation of Textured Surfaces............................................... .................... 35
 Surface Treatm ent .................................................... 36
 Radiofrequency glow discharge treatment.............................. .................... 37
 Fibronectin adsorption .............. ......... ................ 37
 Surface Energy .................................. .............. 38
 D ynam ic Contact A ngles ...................... ..................... .. ........................... 38