ABSTRACT
Use of biomaterials in clinical diagnosis and treatment is an increasingly prevalent application of chemical polymers.1,2 Indeed, catheters,3 stents,4 heart valves,5 bypass circuits,6 dialysis devices,7 and other devices constructed from biochemical polymers have enabled major advances in medical care. One persistent problem associated with the biomaterials involves biocompatibility of the polymer surfaces with blood. In particular, thrombotic complications induced by interactions between the biomaterials and the vascular system remain an obstacle to their functional utility.8 This is a vexing issue especially in the pediatric population requiring catheters for blood sampling or treatment. Studies have clearly established that central venous catheters cause up to 90% of thromboses occurring in neonates9 and approximately 60% of thromboses observed in children.10 Clot formation in and around catheter lines not only prevents treatment from being received by the pediatric
patient but leads to serious risk of thrombotic complications such as stroke.11 Thus, obviation of clot induction by catheter surfaces would solve the major cause of thrombotic disease in children.
