Mitigation of monocyte driven thrombosis on cobalt chrome surfaces in contact with whole blood by thin film polar/hydrophobic/ionic polyurethane coatings.

Monocytes are active at the crossroads between inflammation and coagulation processes since they can secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and express tissue factor (TF), a major initiator of coagulation. Cobalt-chrome (CoCr), a metal alloy, used as a biomaterial for vascular stents, has been shown to be potentially pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory. Research work with a polymer from a family of degradable-polar hydrophobic ionic polyurethanes (D-PHI), called HHHI, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory responses from human monocytes.

Coating of cobalt chrome substrates with thin films of polar/hydrophobic/ionic polyurethanes: Characterization and interaction with human immunoglobulin G and fibronectin.

Biomaterial implants often lead to specific tissue reactions that could compromise their bio-integration and/or optimal cellular interactions. Polyurethanes (PU) are of particular interest as coatings to mask CoCr's bioactivity, since they are generally more biocompatible than metal substrates, present a broad range of chemistry, and have highly tunable-mechanical properties. In the current work, complex polyvinyl-urethanes (referred to as D-PHI materials) are studied for their surface phase structures: specifically, an original D-PHI polymer (O-D-PHI) and a differential formulation with relatively higher hydrophobic and ionic content (HHHI) are of interest.

Mono vs multilayer fibronectin coatings on polar/hydrophobic/ionic polyurethanes: Altering surface interactions with human monocytes.

Unlabelled: Monocyte interactions with materials that are biofunctionalized with fibronectin (Fn) are of interest because of the documented literature which associates this protein with white blood cell function at implant sites. A degradable-polar hydrophobic ionic polyurethane (D-PHI), has been reported to promote an anti-inflammatory response from human monocytes. The aim of the current work was to study the influence of intrinsic D-PHI material chemistry on Fn adsorption (mono and multi-layer structures), and to investigate the influence of such chemistry on the structural state of the Fn, as well as the latter's influence on the activity of human monocytes on the protein coated substrates.