The effect of surface charge on arterial thrombosis

Abstract

AbstractThe amount of thrombus formed on the surface of implants of random copolymers of (L‐glutamic acid co‐L‐leucine) implanted in the femoral and carotid arteries of dogs is related to composition and the degree of ionization. When the initial surface concentration of unionized glutamic acid is greater than 10%, the surface is completely covered with thrombus; the thrombus is, however, limited in thickness to ∼600 μ. For surface concentration of unionized glutamic acid less than 10%, the amount of thrombus is a linear function of the degree of ionization. When 10% of the total surface sites consists of ionized glutamic acid residues, there is no thrombus, and only formed elements adhere to the surface. Thrombus covered surfaces tended to show decreased thrombus formation by seven days post implantation. The presence of thrombus enhanced the rate of development of an endothelial‐like cell layer on the surface, while on thrombus‐free implants, large‐diameter flattened monocytes, some of which formed confluent patches, covered only small areas of the implant surface.