title: Luminal surface microgeometry affects platelet adhesion in small-diameter synthetic grafts.
abstract: One of the major problems when using small-diameter vascular grafts in arterial reconstruction is the development of platelet-rich thrombi as a consequence of blood contact with artificial surfaces. The degree of occlusion is certainly affected by the thrombogenicity of the internal surface that seems to play a key role in patency and long-term wound healing of grafts. In this study, the blood compatibility of Cardiothane (CA) vascular grafts was investigated. The CA material, a blend of polyurethane and polydimethylsiloxane that has shown relatively good physical and biocompatibility properties, was manufactured into vascular grafts by the instrument named "spray-machine". Grafts with different luminal surface porosity were produced using increasing CA concentrations by the "spray-machine" and the blood compatibility was evaluated in vitro by a circulation system in which the human blood was allowed to interact with the material in a well-controlled setting. The samples of circulating blood were collected at different times of circulation and platelet adhesion and activation were studied. Grafts with a highly porous luminal surface induced a lower adhesion and activation of platelets in vitro than the low-porosity ones. These results underlined the importance of the microgeometry of the graft luminal surface in the interaction with blood.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biomaterials and Graft Technology, G. Pasquinucci Hospital, Institute of Clinical Physiology C.N.R., Massa 54100, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Losi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soldani
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness / Q000502:physiology*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D019737:Transplants
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; C000144:Avcothane