Protein Interactions with Endovascular Prosthetic Surfaces

Abstract

Blood protein interaction with prosthetic surfaces seems to be the initial step in the chain of events leading to tissue incorporation of endovascular devices. This paper focuses on the relationship between surface free energy and protein adsorption on metals and polymers commonly used for fabricating vascular prosthetic devices. Our results support a relationship between surface energy and protein adsorption. Albumin was more easily eluted than fibrinogen and fibronectin from most metals and all polymeric surfaces considered. Following elution, metals retained a larger fraction of protein as compared to polymers.