Importance of protein adsorption in the blood compatibility and biostability evaluation of poly etherurethanes (PEUs) containing surface modifying macromolecules (SMMs)

grantor: University of TorontoPolyurethanes (PEUs) have been the materials of choice for the manufacturing of conventional blood-contacting devices. Nevertheless, biostability and blood compatibility, are still among the obstacles that limit their applications. Recent studies investigating the development of protective coatings for PEUs have indicated that biostability of the base polymer can significantly be improved by the use of different fluorinated surface modifying macromolecules (SMMs). It is therefore hypothesized that PEU surfaces modified by SMMs may also exhibit superior blood compatibility. To determine the blood compatibility of the PEU containing SMM, a series of 'in vitro' experiment were designed to first study the pattern of protein adsorption from plasma, as well as to assess the nature of platelet adhesion and activation on each of the substrates. In the second aspect of this thesis, fibrinogen was used as a simple model to study the influence of plasma proteins on the biodegradation of polymers by he biodegradation of polymers by a macrophage derived enzyme, cholestrol esterase (CE). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)M.A.Sc