Abstract
Beside biomaterials’ bulk properties, their surface properties are equally important to control interfacial biocompatibility. However, due to the inadequate interaction with tissue, they may cause foreign body reaction. Moreover, surface induced thrombosis can occur when biomaterials are used for blood containing applications. Surface modification of the biomaterials can bring enhanced surface properties in biomedical applications. Sulfated polysaccharide coatings can be used to avoid surface induced thrombosis which may cause vascular occlusion (blocking the blood flow by blood clot), which results in serious health problems. Naturally occurring heparin is one of the sulfated polysaccharides most commonly used as an anticoagulant, but its long term usage causes hemorrhage. Marine sourced sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan is an alternative anticoagulant without the hemorrhage drawback. Heparin and fucoidan immobilization onto a low density polyethylene surface after functionalization by plasma has been studied. Surface energy was demonstrated by water contact angle test and chemical characterizations were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Surface morphology was monitored by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope. Finally, their anticoagulation activity was examined for prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin time (TT).
Highlights
Biocompatibility of polymeric biomaterials can be considered mostly by means of their bulk and surface properties
As was observed after surface examinations, the existence of their polymer brushes was revealed, they did not show any significant effect on further heparin/fucoidan immobilization
Surface wettability remarkably increased as a result of the introduced oxidative functional groups by plasma treatment and surface roughness increased by simultaneous etching, as was revealed by both the contact angle measurement and atomic force microscope (AFM)
Summary
Biocompatibility of polymeric biomaterials can be considered mostly by means of their bulk and surface properties. When a biomaterial is placed into the body, firstly its surface comes into contact with physiological fluids, the first interaction is strongly dependent on the surface properties. The first response of the biological system is the rapid protein adsorption (within seconds) onto a biomaterial's surface, in accordance with the Vroman Effect [1,2]. As such, this response becomes recognizable by the integrin receptors of most of the cells [3]. Cellular interaction with the adsorbed protein layer plays a paramount
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