Biocompatible Polymers and Their Applications

With an increasing demand for artificial organs which are utilized in contact with blood to substitute for various body functions such as circulation, the elimination of waste and gas exchange, biomaterials with reliable antithrombogenicity have been greatly needed. When in contact with blood, artificial surfaces generally induce platelet adhesion and subsequent activation, which can lead to thrombus formation accompanied by the formation of an insoluble fibrin network1. Therefore, one promising way for creating material surfaces with thromboresistant properties is the design of surfaces eliminating the activation process of adhering platelets2.