Improving Blood Compatibility of Cardiovascular Devices by Surface Modification

This paper presents recent activities on the surface modification of blood contacting biomaterials and devices in the author’s laboratory. Surface coating of inorganic films on materials for artificial heart valves, ventricular pumps and coronary stents, such as titanium, stainless steel and low temperature isotropic pryolitc carbon, etc, shows a significant improvement in the anticoagulation behavior. Further, the formation of functional groups such as hydroxyl or amino groups and the binding of biomolecules as well as seeding of endothelial cell shows the promise of biomimetic surface formation. Plasma grafting on materials for artificial heart valve sewing cuff, extracorporeal circulation tube, etc, such as PET, PU, PVC polymers, revealed a significant improvement of anti-platelet adhesion as well as anti-bacterial properties.