Comparison of the Thrombogenicity of a Bare and Antithrombogenic Coated Flow Diverter in an In Vitro Flow Model.

Background: Dual antiplatelet therapy is a pre-requisite for flow diverter (FD) implantation. The purpose of this study was to assess the thrombogenicity of the p48 FD, coated with the newly developed phenox Hydrophilic Polymer Coating (p48_HPC, phenox GmbH, Germany) in comparison with uncoated p48 FDs in an in vitro flow model (Chandler Loop).

Methods: p48 and p48_HPC FDs were implanted into silicon tubes filled with whole human blood and incubated at 37 °C under pulsating flow.

Fibronectin coating of oxygenator membranes enhances endothelial cell attachment.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can replace the lungs' gas exchange capacity in refractory lung failure. However, its limited hemocompatibility, the activation of the coagulation and complement system as well as plasma leakage and protein deposition hamper mid- to long-term use and have constrained the development of an implantable lung assist device. In a tissue engineering approach, lining the blood contact surfaces of the ECMO device with endothelial cells might overcome these limitations.