Preparation and performance verification of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel biomimetic coating on the surface of vascular intervention guidewires

Abstract

During guidewire interventions in intricate blood vessels, friction and collisions between the guidewire and the vessel wall can lead to complications such as vascular damage. This study focuses on the preparation of a lubricating hydrogel as a biomimetic coating on the guidewire surface. Four types of composite hydrogel biomimetic coatings were prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), silane coupling agent (SCA), and glycerol in different ratios. The fundamental properties of the composite hydrogels were initially investigated, including the swelling behavior, mechanical characteristics, friction property, as well as adhesive property. Subsequently, the practical application of the hydrogel biomimetic coatings on guidewires were analyzed through intervention frictional force analysis, friction resisting tests, and collision tests in intricate blood vessels. The experimental results indicate that the hydrogel biomimetic coating, comprising PVA, DMSO, and SCA, exhibited a maximum friction force at least 0.07 N lower than the minimum friction force observed with the uncoated guidewires. Additionally, it significantly shortens the time required for the guidewire to break through collision area in intricate blood vessels, reducing it from 1.8 s to 0.9 s, indicating its superior lubrication performance. This finding offers experimental evidence for enhancing the safety of clinical intervention surgeries.