Nonspecific adsorption and covalent coupling of heparin on polyacrylate based microbeads

Polyacrylate based microbeads were prepared by copolymerization of four different acrylate monomers, namely 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (EGDMA), methylmethacrylate (MMA) and dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate (DMEAMA). These beads were further activated with CNBr at alkaline pH. The extend of nonspecific adsorption and covalent coupling of heparin on these beads were investigated in a batch reactors at different temperatures. The effects of initial concentrations of activation agent and heparin were also studied. Nonspecific heparin adsorption on the microbeads containing DMAEMA was significantly higher than the others. Nonspecific adsorption decreased with increasing temperature. Heparin was covalently coupled on CNBr activated microbeads. The amount of coupled heparin increased by increasing concentration of CNBr.