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.