Biocompatibility of Polysulfone II. Platelet Adhesion and CHO Cell Growth

Expelimental results on the platelet adhesion, and CHO cell adhesion and growth onto nonionic surfactant which is composed of a long alkyl chain (n = 12∼18) as the hydrophobic part, and a polyethyleneoxide (PEO) segment (n = 10∼23) as the hydrophilic part coated and air-plasma treated PSf surfaces are presented in terms of PEOs functionality and surface wettability to improved blood- and cell-compatibility of polysulfone.

Platelet adhesion experiments on surface treated PSf films were carried out with platelet enriched plasma (PRP) in the parallel flow chamber in vitro. Number and morphology of adhered platelets were observed by scanning electron microscope.

The number of adhered platelets on non ionic surfactant coated surfaces decreased significantly compared to the control. Also, the adhesion of platelets on to PSf substrate decreased with increasing coating concentration of nonionic surfactant. In the dry air-plasma exposed PSf sample, the adhesion of platelets decreased independently of plasma exposure time, and significant diminution of platelet adhesion was observed below about 40° of the contact angle. It is believed that less platelet adhesion is preceded by less protein adsorption due to hydrophobic dehydration interaction.

In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell, adhesion and growth cells grew better on the air-plasma treated PSf surfaces. From these results, it can be proposed that surface wettability of PSf is very important for cell adhesion and growth.