Principles and Applications of Surface Analytical Techniques at the Vascular Interface
Ruben Y. Kannan1,
Henryk J. Salacinski1,
Dina S. Vara1,
Marianne Odlyha2,
Alexander M. Seifalian3*
1 Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Centre (BTEC) Academic Division of
Surgical and Interventional Sciences University College London, London, UK
2 Department of Materials Chemistry, Birkbeck College University of
London, London, UK
3 Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Centre (BTEC) Academic Division of
Surgical and Interventional Sciences University College London, London, UK and
Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust Hospital, London, UK
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
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Abstract |
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Surface properties have been found to be one of the key parameters which cause
degradation and of thrombogenicity in all polymers used in biomedical devices, thus
signifying the importance and the necessity for quantitative and accurate
characterization of the polymer surface itself as used in the construction of the
device. The characterization techniques employed generally involve thermal and
spectroscopic measurements, in which class the electrochemical investigations and
scanning probe microscopies can also be included. Current hypotheses on the correlations
that exist between surface parameters and hemocompatibility and degradation of polymers
are examined herein, but concentrating on the field of clinically utilized polymeric
materials as used within medical devices themselves. Furthermore, this review provides a
brief but complete synopsis of these techniques and other emerging ones, which have
proven useful in the analysis of the surface properties of polymeric materials as used
in the construction of cardiovascular devices. Statements and examples are given as to
how specific information can be acquired from these differing methodologies and how it
aids in the design and development of new polymers for usage in biomedical device construction.
Key Words:
polymer, vascular interface, electron spectroscopy, microcalorimetry, X-ray surface analytical techniques, ATR-Fourier Transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy, electron probe, ion probe techniques
