Hirudin-Like Noninvasive Polyurethane Solid Anticoagulant Fabricated by One-Pot In Situ Solution Polymerization and...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Hematology
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Anticoagulants are crucial for blood purification to prevent clotting.
• Traditional liquid anticoagulants pose risks like bleeding and low platelet counts.
• Developing safer anticoagulation methods is essential for medical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create novel solid anticoagulant microspheres using polyurethane (PU).
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of these microspheres in blood purification.
• To investigate the anticoagulant mechanism of the PU microspheres.

Main Methods:

• One-pot in situ solution polymerization and phase conversion methods were used to synthesize PU microspheres.
• Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) assays were performed.
• Microscale thermography (MST) was employed to confirm thrombin binding.

Main Results:

• The PU microspheres effectively prolonged APTT and TT by 30-40 seconds.
• Polyurethane demonstrated selective thrombin binding, similar to hirudin.
• MST confirmed strong PU-thrombin binding with a dissociation constant (Kd) of approximately 71 μM.
• The microspheres were found to inhibit multiple steps in the coagulation cascade.
• Non-invasive nature and lack of PU release ensure safety.

Conclusions:

• Solid PU microspheres offer a safe and effective anticoagulation strategy for blood purification.
• The selective thrombin-binding capability of PU provides a novel anticoagulant mechanism.
• These microspheres present significant potential for improving the safety of anticoagulation therapy.