title: Hemocompatibility of styrenic block copolymers for use in prosthetic heart valves.
abstract: Certain styrenic thermoplastic block copolymer elastomers can be processed to exhibit anisotropic mechanical properties which may be desirable for imitating biological tissues. The ex-vivo hemocompatibility of four triblock (hard-soft-hard) copolymers with polystyrene hard blocks and polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene or polyisobutylene soft blocks are tested using the modified Chandler loop method using fresh human blood and direct contact cell proliferation of fibroblasts upon the materials. The hemocompatibility and durability performance of a heparin coating is also evaluated. Measures of platelet and coagulation cascade activation indicate that the test materials are superior to polyester but inferior to expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and bovine pericardium reference materials. Against inflammatory measures the test materials are superior to polyester and bovine pericardium. The addition of a heparin coating results in reduced protein adsorption and ex-vivo hemocompatibility performance superior to all reference materials, in all measures. The tested styrenic thermoplastic block copolymers demonstrate adequate performance for blood contacting applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. jbb41@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1207-7446
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brubert
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krajewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wendel
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Services, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, UK.
authors.forename: Sukumaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stasiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Geoff D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Moggridge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002070:Butadienes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010496:Pericardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011090:Polyenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D020724:Elastomers; D011090:Polyenes; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; C028834:polybutadiene; C008967:polyisobutylene