A Novel Second-Generation Polyolefin Container for Storage of Single-Donor Apheresis Platelets

Abstract

A non-blow-molded LE-2 polyolefin (PO) container was developed to store single-donor apheresis platelet concentrates (PCs) processed by the Haemonetics Plasma Collecting System (PCS) at 22°C for over 1 day. We molded PO containers with heat-sealing of light-weight polymer alloy films with a thickness of 0.25 mm. The film was made of polymer blends consisting of polypropylene, styrene ethylene butylene styrene-block copolymer, and ehtylene ethylacrylate copolymer. The PO container with enough strength and flexibility in routine practice has 2 and 1.6 times higher oxygen and carbon dioxide gas transfer properties than standard polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic containers. PCs (1-1.9x10^11 platelets) processed from 450ml platelet-rich plasma were stored in 0.6-liter PO containers at 22°C with flatbed agitation for up to 6 days. The pH of PCs was well maintained at the mean values of 7.0 in PO containers after 6 days in the well-oxygenated condition. The energy metabolism of stored platelets was determined. Oxygen consumption rates of platelets stored in PO containers averaged 1.5 nmol/min/10^9 platelets. The rates of glucose consumption and lactate production were 0.4 and 0.8 nmol/min/10^11 platelets, respectively. The rates of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation of platelets, 9.7 nmol/min/109 platelets, in PO containers did not differ from those in the PVC containers. Aggregation responses to adenosine diphosphate and hypotonic shock response of platelets were better maintained in PO containers. The morphological changes into sphere forms with projections and the appearance of unclassified forms were more frequently observed in PO than in PVC containers. Single-donor apheresis platelet products collected by the PCS system may be stored in a new 0.6-liter PO container for over 5 days under acceptable conditions.

Platelets Stored for 6 Days in a Polyolefin Container in a Synthetic Medium with Minimal Plasma Carry-Over

“…On day 6 of storage morphology had deteriorated equally in all PC, but was still acceptable (comparable to Kunicki's score >200). In the PO bags bizarre shapes (crescents, rings and elongated forms) appeared in small amounts during stor age as described earlier by Shimizu et al [10],…”

“…the Neth erlands], further referred to as PVC bag, and containers made of polypropylene Kraton G and ethylene ethylacrylate copolymer, also called PO (LGP type, 300ml, Nissho, Osaka, Japan), further re ferred to as PO bag. The 02 permeability for the PO bags was 1,229 ± 29 ml/m2/atm/24 h and the C02 permeability 5,258 ± 88 ml/m2/ atm/24 h. For the PVC bags, the 02 and C02 permeability were 628 ± 10 ml/m2/atm/24 h and 3,235 ± 24 ml/m2/atm/24 h, respectively [10].…”

“…For this medium, the PO bag offers a slight advantage with respect to the preservation of platelet ATP content (>80 versus >70% in the PVC bags) and aggregation and adhesion capacity. The adhesion capacity increased in the PO bags, while it decreased in the PVC bags.In several studies [6][7][8][9][10] it has been shown that platelets can be stored in a synthetic medium instead of plasma. The advantages of the use of synthetic storage media are: decreased risk of transmission of infectious agents, al lergens, activated plasma factors, toxins and drugs, less protein overload in patients needing multiple platelet transfusions, and salvage of plasma for fractionation.…”

Plasma-Depleted Platelet Concentrates Prepared with a New Washing Solution

“…Four hundred milliliter of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was collect ed from healthy donors into a 0.6-liter polyolefin bag (Nissho Corp.. Osaka, Japan) by apheresis using a blood cell separator (Haemonetics, AA) and a standard procedure with ACD solution as an anti coagulant [14], A new closed system using SCD (Haemonetics/Dupont) was used for collection of PRP [15].…”

“…The time of storage refers to the time after phlebotomy. The following mea surements were made as previously described [2,4,14,16]: pH at 22°C, p02 and pC02 at 37°C, platelet count, mean platelet volume, glucose, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, oxygen consumption rate, ß-thromboglobulin. Percent hypotonic shock response and aggrega tion studies were performed using an NKK aggregometer (Hematracer, SSR Engineering, Tokyo, Japan) as described elsewhere [2] with out the incubation step at 37°C.…”