Abstract
We present a new technique for the evaluation of polymer blood compatibility that makes use of a microchannel array flow analyzer and we describe and characterize the flow dynamics of this instrument. The blood compatibility of four polymers is quantitatively and qualitatively assessed and the results discussed. The blood is allowed to flow through the channels of a polymer coated micro-fluidic chip under adjustable pressure. The chip surface is investigated using optical microscopy during the blood flow and by scanning electron microscopy afterwards. Polymers known for having good blood compatibility exhibited higher flow rate values. Platelets were observed adhering, aggregating and obstructing the channels of the chips coated with polymers known for having poor blood compatibility. This technique has remarkable qualities such as a small blood volume requirement for material tests (100 μL), tuneable flow regimes and the use of human blood.
Highlights
The direct and indirect costs associated with cardiovascular diseases totaled $431.8 billion in 2007 in the US alone, P where more than 6 million cardiovascular operations and procedures were performed during the year 2004 [1]
In this work we present the use of a micro-fluidic technique to study the interaction of blood with polymers under controlled flow conditions
The surface of a micro-fluidic array chip is coated with the polymer under investigation and the blood is allowed to flow though its channels
Summary
The direct and indirect costs associated with cardiovascular diseases totaled $431.8 billion in 2007 in the US alone, P where more than 6 million cardiovascular operations and procedures were performed during the year 2004 [1]. The surface of a micro-fluidic array chip is coated with the polymer under investigation and the blood is allowed to flow though its channels. A second set of experiments was performed using the 6% dextran solution which was allowed to flow through the chip channels under different pressures.
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