Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

09:22
Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
Protein-resistant and fibrinolytic polyurethane surfaces
Zhaoqiang Wu1, Hong Chen, Xiaoli Liu
1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Soochow, China.
Macromolecular Bioscience
|October 15, 2011
Summary
New polyurethane surfaces resist protein adsorption and bind plasminogen, enabling rapid blood clot dissolution. These fibrinolytic surfaces show promise for blood-contact applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Developing blood-contacting materials with improved hemocompatibility is crucial for medical devices.
- Non-specific protein adsorption can lead to adverse biological responses and device failure.
- Fibrinolytic surfaces that can actively break down blood clots are highly desirable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer polyurethane surfaces with resistance to protein adsorption and enhanced plasminogen binding capacity.
- To create effective fibrinolytic surfaces for blood-contact applications.
Main Methods:
- Grafting poly(OEGMA-co-HEMA) copolymers onto polyurethane surfaces.
- Utilizing OEGMA for protein resistance via PEG side chains.
- Employing HEMA for a high density of hydroxyl groups to attach lysine.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated low adsorption of fibrinogen from both buffer and plasma, indicating significant protein resistance.
- Achieved high plasminogen binding from plasma.
- Observed rapid blood clot dissolution on surfaces with adsorbed plasminogen converted to plasmin.
Conclusions:
- The developed poly(OEGMA-co-HEMA) grafted polyurethane surfaces exhibit excellent protein resistance and high plasminogen binding.
- These surfaces demonstrate effective fibrinolytic activity, showing potential for advanced blood-contacting medical devices.

