Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ePTFE

Polytetrafluoroethylene suture is composed of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), resulting in a porous microstructure having longitudinally oriented nodes and fibrils. The suture is sold by W. L. Gore Associates, Inc. under the trade name Gore-Tex Suture. 

More recently, W. L. Gore Associates, Inc. [31] have used expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) porous films and PFSA resin solutions to produce a composite membrane. In this process, the PFSA solution was brushed onto both sides of the ePTFE film so as to impregnate and substantially occlude the interior volume of the film a nonionic surfactant (5%, w/v) was then added into the PFSA solution as a penetrant. The surfactant was removed by soaking in isopropanol after drying at 140 °C (this procedure was repeated several times so as to fully occlude the interior... 

I. Baek, C.Z. Bai, J. Hwang, J. Park, J.S. Park, D.J. Kim, Suppression of neointimal hyperplasia by sirolimus-eluting expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) haemodialysis grafts in comparison with paclitaxel-coated grafts, Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. 27 (2012) 1997-2004. 

Fig 1 22 Boston Scientific Endotak quadripolar Reliance G implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead. Two expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE or Gore-Tex) jackets black arrows) cover the shock coils to prevent tissue ingrowth (courtesy of Boston Scientific)... 

Tubular scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning have been extensively studied as scaffolds for small diameter (<6 mm) vascular grafts. Current artificial grafts, mainly Dacron and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), have had some success when used in larger diameter grafts but are limited by issues such as thrombosis when considered for use in smaller diameter grafts. Electrospun tubular scaffolds can be fabricated with well-controlled diameters and uniform thickness across the material. The variety of polymers from which these scaffolds can be synthesised has resulted in scaffolds with mechanical properties similar to those of native vascular tissues, and hence these better support blood flow and capillaiy in-growth. 

---