The interaction of blood components with PDMS(polydimethylsiloxane) and LDPE (low‐density polyethylene) in a baboon ex vivo arteriovenous shunt model

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The interaction of 111Indium‐labeled platelets, and other blood components with the luminal surface of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) was determined using an ex vivo arteriovenous shunt in the baboon. Both PDMS and LDPE showed little platelet accumulation at either high (200 cc/min) or low (25 cc/min) flow rates. PDMS accumulated more platelets at low than at high flow. When the surfaces of PDMS and LDPE were examined under scanning electron microscopy after 2.5 h of flow in the shunt circuit, red and white blood cells were attached. Platelets appeared to be confined to patchy areas covered by a fibrinlike network. The low platelet reactivity of LDPE and PDMS suggests their potential use as coatings for conventional, more platelet reactive, vascular graft materials.