Analysis of urokinase immobilization on the polytetrafluoroethylene vascular prosthesis

The polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular prosthesis is thrombogenic and therefore not an ideal artificial blood vessel. The immobilization of urokinase on the surface of this substance has the potential to render the PTFE thrombolytic. Urokinase was immobilized to PTFE using tridodecylmethyl-ammonium chloride as a surfactant. In this preliminary study, a success rate of 45 percent was observed for the immobilization of active urokinase to PTFE. A model is proposed wherein application of the graft to an in vivo system is discussed. The urokinase graft is expected to be most effective under conditions of reduced blood flow which otherwise might promote thrombogenesis. The systemic side effects of the immobilized urokinase are expected to be significantly less when compared with the side effects of urokinase infused for clot lysis. The model presented of the urokinase-bound graft suggests that development and further study of the graft will result in an improved PTFE vascular prosthesis.