Initiation of blood coagulation - Evaluating the relevance of specific surface functionalities using self assembled monolayers

• Applicant: Dr. Claudia Sperling
• Subject Area: Pathology
• Term: from 2006 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 31785435

This project intends to test the impact of recently elucidated pathways of coagulation in vivo on coagulation and blood cell activation at biomaterial surfaces. Targeting for a more rational design of blood compatible surfaces requires a deeper understanding of material ¿ blood interactions. Recent insights in coagulation processes, especially the involvement of cellular systems, have not yet been integrated in hemocompatibility research yet where the main focus is still set on the activation of the ¿contact system¿. Model surfaces of self assembled monolayers with different surface functionalities (-COOH, -OH, -CH3) as well as two-component-layers with varying fractions of these will be used in the study, as they allow the modification of single parameters. Previous results with this system indicated an enhanced platelet adhesion preferably on -CH3-surfaces, leukocytes on OH-terminated surfaces and a synergistic effect of -CH3- and COOH-groups on plasmatic coagulation activation. This indicates an influence of the cellular systems on the plasmatic coagulation what is not in the general concept of blood compatibility of surfaces. The system will be used to check systematically the effects of different surface chemistry on the coagulation activation, impact of tissue factor (extrinsic/ activator pathway), contact activation (intrinsic/ enhancer pathway) and cellular systems (blood platelets and leukocytes).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants