In patients with respiratory failure, extracorporeal lung support can ensure sufficient oxygenation of blood via artificial lungs containing gas-permeable membranes called hollow fiber membranes (HFMs). Unfortunately, the use of such devices for the long term is limited due to the insufficient hemocompatibility of the current HFMs. A promising approach is the endothelialization of these membranes for improved hemocompatibility and prolonged applicability.

In our recent study, we developed a novel strategy based on click chemistry for efficient endothelialization of HFM surfaces. Using metabolic glycoengineering and click chemistry, the surface of HFMs was efficiently endothelialized, which resulted in improved hemocompatibility compared to uncoated surfaces. The use of this strategy for efficient endothelialization of biomaterial surfaces offers enormous possibilities in the field of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and the improvement of medical devices.