Redox-Triggered Autologous Protein Assembly for Blood-Contacting Interfaces

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Allogeneic (host-to-patient) bioresource applications face challenges with pathogen removal, immunogenicity, and contamination.
• Existing methods often compromise the functional biomolecules within bioresources.
• A need exists for safe and effective autologous (patient-to-self) bioresource utilization in biomedical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel strategy for creating hemoglobin-based ultrathin biocoatings using an autologous approach.
• To enable the direct use of patient-derived hemoglobin for functionalizing medical devices.
• To overcome the limitations of conventional bioresource processing for clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Introduced a ligand dissociation-induced phase-transition strategy for biocoating.
• Utilized mild reductant-initiated, redox-triggered assembly of patient-derived hemoglobin.
• Developed an autologous-to-autologous (A-A) route for constructing hemoglobin-based ultrathin biocoatings.
• Demonstrated coassembly with heparin to form composite coatings.

Main Results:

• Achieved efficient self-organization of hemoglobin into nanoscale films without harsh chemicals.
• Enabled functionalization of diverse substrates (∼0.9 m² per 1 mL blood).
• Created robust, antibiofouling coatings with enhanced hemocompatibility (prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time >600 s).
• Demonstrated reduced systemic toxicity and eliminated cross-individual transmission risks.

Conclusions:

• The developed strategy establishes a clinically translatable paradigm for personalized, blood-contacting medical devices.
• This autologous hemoglobin-based biocoating approach offers a safe and effective alternative to allogeneic methods.
• The technique enhances device functionality and hemocompatibility while mitigating risks associated with traditional bioresource applications.