Brush-like surface using heparin/chitosan based nanoparticles for blood-contacting applications

Abstract

With increasing applications of biomedical implants, it is crucial to develop surfaces that are blood compatible, meaning they do not induce platelet or protein adhesion. Many implants that are currently used to treat a wide range of problems have one major drawback, they can induce thrombosis. The endothelial glycocalyx plays a crucial role in preventing thrombosis. Based on this idea, we set out to develop a surface that has a brush-like structure similar to that of the endothelial glycocalyx. We developed the surface by adsorbing negatively charged heparin/chitosan polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles onto a heparin/tri-methylchitosan polyelectrolyte multilayer. The surface was then characterized using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), atomic force microsocopy (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and polarization modulation-infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). Using these techniques we confirmed that we had created a surface with brush- like structure. Our hypothesis that the nanoparticles on the surface swell and form a brush-like structure when exposed to physiological conditions seems to be correct, as a result, we feel the surface we have developed could have a wide range of applications in the biomedical field.