Limitations of predicting in vivo biostability of multiphase polyurethane elastomers using temperature-accelerated degradation testing.

Polyurethane biostability has been the subject of intense research since the failure of polyether polyurethane pacemaker leads in the 1980s. Accelerated in vitro testing has been used to isolate degradation mechanisms and predict clinical performance of biomaterials. However, validation that in vitro methods reproduce in vivo degradation is critical to the selection of appropriate tests.

Surface analysis of pure and complex mucin coatings on a real-type substrate using individual and combined mBCA, ELLA, and ELISA.

In the past, we introduced the idea of using mucin coatings to improve biomaterials performance. Here, we evaluate non-radioactive methods for the analysis of pure and human host protein-containing (complex) mucin coatings on a real-type substrate (Thermanox). A common protein quantification assay (mBCA) was combined with mass-calibrated, enzyme-amplified assays based on lectin (ELLA) and antibody (ELISA) recognition, to determine the total and specific amounts of surface-associated proteins.