Glycosaminoglycans--all round talents in coating technology.

The use of glycosaminoglycans for coating of medical implants had it's beginning in heparin coating of coronary stents and catheters to improve their haemocompatibility. Until now glycosaminoglycans proved as very potent in a variety of medical applications. Glycosaminoglycans not only show anticoagulant properties, also their crystal growth inhibiting effects in urology, inhibition of bacterial adherence and influence on the proliferation behaviour of human cells could be demonstrated. Beside an overview over the development of glycosaminoglycan coatings so far, recent outcomes of a bacteriological and a cell proliferation study with coated surfaces are presented.