The interaction of blood proteins with alpha-alumina.
The use of alumina (alpha-Al2O3) as a material for cardiovascular applications was investigated on the basis of protein adsorption and thrombus formation on the material. The adsorption of 125I-labelled albumin and fibrinogen from phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.35, 0.100 M NaCl, 8.66 mM KH2PO4 and 41 mM Na2HPO4) solution on ceramic discs of alumina was studied. Both albumin and fibrinogen presented affinity for ceramic surfaces, with adsorptions of 1.47 +/- 0.06 ng/cm2 and 0.198 +/- 0.01 ng/cm2, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of the alpha-Al2O3 surfaces after contact of the discs with whole human blood showed a thrombogenic behavior of alumina alpha. These results indicate a hemoincompatible property. Although critical surface tension (gamma C: 21.8 dynes/cm) of the disc surfaces determined by contact angle technique of sessile drops indicates that alumina alpha is a biocompatible material, by this criterion, the data reported here indicate that alpha-Al2O3 cannot be used for cardiovascular applications.
de-Queiroz
A A
AA
Departamento de Ciências (ICI), Escola Federal de Engenharia de Itajubá MG, Brasil.
Vianna
E P
EP
Genova
L A
LA
Higa
O Z
OZ
Bressiani
J C
JC
Bressiani
A H
AH
D000327:Adsorption; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002516:Ceramics; D005340:Fibrinogen; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015539:Platelet Activation
D000418:Albumins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001798:Blood Proteins; D005340:Fibrinogen; D000537:Aluminum Oxide