Cast vs extruded Biomer for biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Medical Device Engineering

Background:

• Biomer, a key polymer in medical devices, exists in various grades affecting its performance.
• Understanding the blood compatibility of different Biomer grades is critical for long-term medical implants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the properties and in vivo blood compatibility of solution grade and extrusion grade Biomer.
• To investigate the impact of processing methods on Biomer's thromboresistance.
• To explore the relationship between surface characteristics and blood compatibility.

Main Methods:

• In vivo blood compatibility assessment using arteriovenous (AV) shunts.
• Surface analysis using Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA).
• Comparison of solution cast and extruded Biomer materials.

Main Results:

• Extruded Biomer demonstrated superior thromboresistance compared to solution cast Biomer in AV shunt studies.
• Solution cast extruded Biomer also showed enhanced thromboresistance over cast solution grade Biomer.
• ESCA analysis revealed a correlation between higher surface soft segment concentration and increased thromboresistance.

Conclusions:

• The processing method significantly influences Biomer's thromboresistance, with extrusion being more advantageous.
• Extruded Biomer is a more promising candidate for long-term implantation, particularly in artificial hearts.
• Surface soft segment concentration is a key factor in determining Biomer's blood compatibility.