Correlation of Physical Surface Properties with Blood Responses

Correlation of Physical Surface Properties with Blood Responses 

A number of polymer surface parameters, e.g. surface free energy and surface charge, are responsible for blood interaction phenomena. Regarding the correlation of hydrophilidty and thrombocyte adhesion, Ikada et al. determined a maximum of thrombocyte adhesion for a contact angle region between 60 and 80° [95]. Van Wachem et al. showed that the best blood compatibility of polymer blends is achieved for moderate wettability [96]. The influence of polar and dispersive components of the surface tension on blood compatibility was described by Kaelble and Coleman [97,98]. They found that polymers with high dispersive (y ) and low polar components (yP) of surface tension show better blood compatibility than polymers with low dispersive interactions. Furthermore, a nega- 

The existence of these optimiun values maybe due to a biocompatibUity window. However, this only applies to PPE/EVA blends. It has to be expected that the biocompatibility window of other polymer systems is displaced due to further influences of material-related surface properties. 

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