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Comparative in vitro performances of bare Nitinol surfaces
S Shabalovskaya1, J Anderegg, G Rondelli
1Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. svetinol@yahoo.com
Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering
|January 17, 2008
Summary
Surface treatments for Nitinol (nickel-titanium alloy) impact fibrinogen adsorption and platelet behavior. Tailoring surface properties can control thrombogenicity for medical device applications like stents.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Medical Device Engineering
Background:
- Nitinol is a widely used alloy in medical devices due to its unique properties.
- Understanding Nitinol's surface interactions with biological components is crucial for device safety and efficacy.
- Surface characteristics significantly influence the biocompatibility of metallic implants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of various Nitinol surface treatments on fibrinogen adsorption and human platelet morphology.
- To correlate surface chemistry, topography, and nickel release with observed biological responses.
- To determine if Nitinol's thrombogenicity can be manipulated through surface engineering for specific medical applications.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of diverse Nitinol surfaces using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), atomic adsorption spectroscopy, and electrochemistry.
- Evaluation of fibrinogen adsorption levels and quantification of nickel release into a biological medium.
- Assessment of human platelet morphology and aggregation on treated Nitinol surfaces.
Main Results:
- Nitinol surfaces exhibited varying topographies and crystallinities, with nickel (Ni) release in a subtoxic range (0-11 ng/ml/cm²).
- Fibrinogen adsorption was directly proportional to titanium (Ti) surface concentration and correlated with open circuit potential.
- Platelet morphology ranged from round to fully spread, with smooth, even cell layers on optimized surfaces, indicating reduced thrombotic potential.
Conclusions:
- Nitinol surface treatments significantly influence protein adsorption and cellular interactions.
- Surface chemistry and topography play key roles in determining Nitinol's biocompatibility and thrombogenicity.
- Appropriate surface engineering of Nitinol allows for the manipulation of thrombogenicity, enabling its use in diverse medical devices such as stents and defect occluders.
