Trifluoromethyl-functionalized poly(lactic acid): a fluoropolyester designed for blood contact applications

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Science
• Cardiovascular Engineering

Background:

• Fluorinated polymers show promise for cardiovascular medical devices due to lower thrombogenicity.
• Development and hemocompatibility of fluorinated polyesters for blood contact applications remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a versatile method for preparing trifluoromethyl-functionalized poly(lactic acid) (CF3-PLA).
• To evaluate the hemocompatibility of the novel fluorinated polyester for potential use in cardiovascular implants.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized trifluoromethyl-functionalized poly(lactic acid) using a versatile preparation method.
• Assessed polymer hydrophobicity and in vitro cytotoxicity using NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells.
• Evaluated blood interactions by measuring albumin and fibrinogen adsorption from human blood plasma.

Main Results:

• The synthesized fluorinated polymer exhibited increased hydrophobicity compared to standard poly(lactic acid).
• Extracts from the fluorinated polymer showed no in vitro cytotoxicity.
• The CF3-PLA adsorbed higher amounts of albumin and fibrinogen, with an improved albumin/fibrinogen ratio, indicating enhanced hemocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• A novel method for creating CF3-functionalized polyesters was successfully developed.
• The resulting fluorinated polyester demonstrates promising hemocompatibility for cardiovascular medical device applications.
• Controlling plasma protein adsorption is critical for the performance of implanted medical devices.