Elastic multiblock copolymers for vascular regeneration: protein adsorption and hemocompatibility

Hemocompatibility of elastic multiblock copolymers PDC, based on poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO)/poly(ε-caprolactone)-segments, capable of a shape-memory effect, and PDD, based on PPDO/poly((adipinate-alt-1,4-butanediol)-co-(adipinate-alt-ethylene glycol)-co-adipinate-alt-diethylene glycol)-segments, was studied in order to assess their suitability for an application aiming at blood vessels regeneration. The results were compared with polypropylene (PP) which is a widely used blood-contacting material for devices as blood oxygenators and dialysis tubes. Protein adsorption studies showed diverse blood plasma proteins in a relatively high amount on both elastic polymers compared to the poor amount of plasma proteins adsorbed on PP. Study of the coagulation system revealed high thrombin formation on PDC and no difference in plasma kallikrein activation between elastic multiblock copolymers and the reference PP. Activation of complement system was higher for PDC followed by PDD and lower for PP. However, platelet adhesion and activation were hardly suppressed on the multiblock copolymers compared to the PP surface, where the number of adhered platelets and the activation rate were significant. The present results reveal that the tested multiblock copolymers with improved elastic properties and shape-memory capability (PDC) show low thrombogenicity and are promising candidates for vascular tissue engineering.