F.p.l.c. analysis of the leakage products of proteins crosslinked on Dacron vascular prostheses.

The haemocompatibility of vascular, Dacron prostheses was improved by coating with albumin and/or collagen crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GTA) or carbodiimide (CDI). F.p.l.c. (fast protein liquid chromatography) analysis of the products desorbed from polymeric matrices incubated in physiological conditions for periods extended up to 10 d did not detect the monomers or polymers of collagen and albumin but small amounts of degradation products, the molecular weights of which were less than 45,000, thus minimizing an eventual immunogenic response after implantation. However GTA and CDI matrices required extensive washing to neutralize the cytotoxic effect of GTA and achieve the release of CDI from protein complexes.