Macromolecular aspects of biocompatible materials—a review

Abstract

SummaryThis paper is limited chiefly to the question of blood compatibility and will not cover areas such as dental applications and mechanical support prostheses. The demand for blood compatible materials has become important for cardiac and pulmonary assist devices and artificial hearts. Since the second World War, a larger number of synthetic materials became available ranging from elastomeric to hard, hydrophobic to hydrophilic systems, but almost all of these were developed for large-scale commercial end-use where the presence of small quantities of impurities, traces of catalysts, plasticizers, etc., is not too critical. For medical implants, it is necessary to prepare the appropriate polymers in the chemically pure state. The ultimate goal is the fabrication of practical, economical, and working devices. This goal demands that the material not only be compatible with blood, but also be able to perform distinct mechanical and physico-chemical functions or be useful for the isolation of implantable prostheses from body fluids.

Cell‐lined, Nonwoven Microfiber Scaffolds as a Blood Interface*

“…In all experiments we were able to produce comparable pseudointimas by perfusion culture with only 70% of the cells required to seed materials cultured under static conditions. These results corroborate those of Kruse et ~1 .~9 -6 1 in the production of multiple-layered populations of cells. The improvement in results in perfusion culture relate not only to the steady state of the media nutrients, but also to the periodic exposure of the pseudointimas to air as the tubes rotate, thus providing oxygenation.…”

“…The use of cell-lined microfiber scaffolds as blood interfaces depends upon (1) microfibers that are compatible with cells and durable in vivo: (2) the availability of nonthrombogenic, nonantigenic cells to line prostheses and the ( 3 ) tissue culture technology capable of cultivating suitable cells and producing reliable pseudointimas.…”

“…Pseudointimas were produced by a four-step process 2 7 , 29v 3 2 which included (1) washing and degassing of fabric, (2) seeding of cells, ( 3 ) stabilization, and (4) static or perfusion culture. Prior to seeding with cells, the tubes or discs were washed and degassed in media at low negative pressures (10-15 mm Hg).…”

Plasma Protein Adsorption and Platelet Adhesion on Poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] and Reference Material Surfaces

“…Therefore, the major part of this contribution is concerned All proteins and antibodies were used according to the manuwith protein adsorption on PTFEP coated surfaces of glass, facturers recommendations. 2 For clear antibody solutions, no silicon and pyrolytic carbon (LTPC), and a variety of refer-further purification was performed. ence materials.…”

Hydrophilic grafting on poly(vinlfluoride) films by means of accelerated electrons

“…There are few reports, however, on grafting of monomers by means of low-energy electrons. The use of accelerated electrons with a practical range of up to 200 pm is indicated for the purpose of surface modification, which may be required for the medical application of polymers [2]. It has been reported [2] that hydrophilicity can have important influence on the physiological response of tissue and blood to polymer material.…”