Affiliations: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China | Research Center for Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China | Saskatoon Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Peter R. Chang, Saskatoon Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 0X2. Tel.: +1 306 956 7637; Fax: +1 306 956 7247; E-mail: peter.chang@agr.gc.ca.
Abstract: Objective: To improve the hemocompatibility of chitosan/soy protein isolate composite membranes by heparinization. Methods: Chitosan/soy protein isolate membranes (ChS-n, n=0, 10 and 30, corresponding to the soy protein isolate content in the membranes) and heparinized ChS-n membranes (HChS-n) were prepared by blending in dilute HAc/NaAc solution. The hemocompatibility of ChS-n and HChS-n membranes were comparatively evaluated by measuring surface heparin density, blood platelet adhesion, plasma recalcification time (PRT), thrombus formation and hemolysis assay. Results: The surface heparin density analysis showed that heparinized chitosan/SPI soy protein isolate membranes have been successfully prepared by blending. The density of heparin on the surface of HChS-n membranes was in the range of 0.67–1.29 μg/cm2. The results of platelet adhesion measurement showed that the platelet adhesion numbers of HChS-n membranes were lower than those of the corresponding ChS-n membranes. The PRT of the HChS-0, HChS-10 and HChS-30 membranes were around 292, 306 and 295 s, respectively, which were longer than the corresponding ChS-0 (152 s), ChS-10 (204 s) and ChS-30 (273 s) membranes. The hemolysis rate of HChS-n membranes was lower than 1%. Conclusion: The hemocompatibility of ChS membranes could be improved by blending with heparin. Compared with ChS membranes, HChS membranes showed lower platelet adhesion, longer PRT, higher BCI, significant thromboresistivity and a lower hemolysis rate due to the heparinization. This widens the application of chitosan and soy protein-based biomaterials that may come in contact with blood.
Keywords: Chitosan, soy protein isolate, membrane, heparinization, hemocompatibility
