Platelet adhesion and procoagulant activity induced by contact with radiofrequency glow discharge polymers: roles of adsorbed fibrinogen and vWF.

The potential hemocompatibility of radiofrequency glow discharge (RFGD) polymers made by copolymerization of mixtures of hexafluoropropene and ethylene (C(3)F(6)/C(2)H(4)) or acrylic acid and 1,7-octadiene was investigated using in vitro assays for platelet adhesion and platelet catalyzed thrombin generation. Thrombin generation rate normalized to platelet number was used as a measurement of platelet activation (procoagulant activity). RFGD polymers produced by copolymerization of acrylic acid and 1, 7-octadiene contained varying amounts of carboxylic acid species as determined by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). These polymers induced little variation in platelet adhesion, thrombin generation, or platelet activation. RFGD polymerization of C(3)F(6) and C(2)H(4) resulted in polymers with varying proportions of fluorinated species, as determined by ESCA. Fibrinogen adsorption from plasma was maximal on a polymer made with 25% C(3)F(6) (75% C(2)H(4)) in the feed. However von Willebrand factor (vWF) adsorption was greater on polymers made with increased %C(3)F(6) in the feed. Platelet adhesion decreased with increasing %C(3)F(6) in the feed. Thrombin generation was lowest for platelets adherent to polymers made from both C(3)F(6) and C(2)H(4). Therefore, procoagulant activity of platelets increased for polymers made with increased %C(3)F(6) in the feed, similar to the trend in vWF adsorption. These findings suggest that increased incorporation of fluorinated species into RFGD polymers leads to decreased platelet adhesion and increased platelet activation (which is possibly due to increased vWF adsorption).