ABSTRACT
Development of improved blood-contacting devices requires design of non-thrombogenic polymers with high reliability. Interaction of platelets with polymer surfaces has been extensively studied in terms of platelet adhesion, plasma protein adsorp tion, and their dynamics on polymer surfaces. We have performed systematic studies on non-thrombogenicity of various types of block copolymers in terms of platelet interaction with these surfaces both in vitro and in vivo. Throughout these studies, we have suggested the importance of controlling polymer surface micro structure in order to prevent platelets from activating on polymer surfaces [1,2]. We have proposed that prevention of contact-induced activation of platelets on polymer surfaces is a critical step in the design of non-thrombogenic polymers.
