Hemocompatibility study of a bacterial cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2013 Nov 1:111:493-502. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.06.031. Epub 2013 Jul 1.

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been suggested to be a suitable biomaterial for the development of cardiovascular grafts. The combination of BC with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) results in nanocomposites with improved properties. Surprisingly, there are very few studies on the BC-blood interaction. This is the focus of this paper. We present the first thorough assessment of the hemocompatibility of the BC/PVA nanocomposite. Whole blood clotting time, plasma recalcification, Factor XII activation, platelet adhesion and activation, hemolytic index and complement activation are all determined. The platelet activation profiles on BC and BC/PVA surfaces are comprehensively characterized. BC and BC/PVA outperformed ePTFE--used as a point of comparison--thus evidencing their suitability for cardiovascular applications.

Keywords: Bacterial cellulose; Biocompatibility; Biomaterials; Hemocompatibility; Platelets; Polyvinyl alcohol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Coagulation / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cellulose / pharmacology*
  • Complement System Proteins / metabolism
  • Factor XII / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescence
  • Gluconacetobacter / chemistry
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing / methods*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microspheres
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Platelet Adhesiveness / drug effects
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Factor XII
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol
  • Cellulose
  • Complement System Proteins