Platelet deposition and fibrinogen binding on surfaces coated with heparin or friction-reducing polymers

The blood-contacting properties of polyethylene coated with a lubricious hydrophilic coating; an uncoated polyethylene; or a photoheparin-treated polyethylene-negative control sample were compared by measuring fibrinogen adsorption, antifibrinogen binding, and platelet attachment from human plasma. The polyethylene surfaces coated with a hydrophilic polymer were found to be similar to surfaces coated with heparin. Fibrinogen adsorption on the hydrophilic coating was 60% lower than adsorption on either the uncoated or heparin-coated polyethylene samples. Antifibrinogen binding from buffer to the hydrophilic coating was also reduced more than 85% from binding to uncoated polyethylene samples. Both the hydrophilic coating and heparin coating showed a reduction in platelet attachment by a factor of 100 over the uncoated sample as well as significantly reduced platelet activation.