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Surface analysis techniques have been used to characterize heparin-containing bioactive coatings. The relationship between uncoated polymer, intermediate coupling and final layer surface chemistry upon the overall quality of the coating system has been investigated. The results present data from ToFSIMS, XPS and bioactivity in terms of thrombin deactivation as measured using chromogenic assay technique on heparin-based coatings on polymer surfaces including LDPE and PVC. The effect of pretreatment of uncoated polymer surfaces has been investigated where a number of effects critical to coating performance have been identified. Studies of the intermediate coupling regime show how the first and final stages of coupling are the most critical. Finally it is shown how the integrity, mean thickness and chemical state of the heparin final layer can be measured using a combination of ToFSIMS and XPS.

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