ROLE OF HEPARIN ON PLATELET RETENTION BY ACRYLONITRILE CO-POLYMER DIALYSIS MEMBRANES

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 89  (4) , 724-734
Abstract
The role of heparin on platelet [mammalian]-foreign surface interactions was examined by platelet retention studies on acrylonitrile-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (AN-DMAEMA) dialysis membranes both with and without the bonding of heparin onto their surfaces. Heparin bonding significantly reduced platelet retention. Heparin in solution (4 units/ml.) increased platelet retention when the surface of the membranes was modified by ethylene oxide but had no significant effect on the platelet-retaining properties of unmodified membranes. Studies using heparin 99mTc demonstrated that unmodified membranes took up heparin from solution, but ethylene oxide-modified membranes had little such affinity. The heparin bonding process greatly increased the heparin uptake achieved by simple soaking in heparin solution, and the leaching rate was < 1% at 70 h. Heparin apparently has 2 antagonistic effects in this platelet-foreign surface interaction; it acts directly on platelets to increase adhesiveness while acting on the foreign surface to reduced platelet retention.