Blood biocompatibility of surface-bound multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Blood clots when it contacts foreign surfaces following platelet activation. This can be catastrophic in clinical settings involving extracorporeal circulation such as during heart–lung bypass where blood is circulated in polyvinyl chloride tubing. Studies have shown, however, that surface-bound carbon nanotubes may prevent platelet activation, the initiator of thrombosis. We studied the blood biocompatibility of polyvinyl chloride, surface-modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes in vitro and in vivo. Our results show that surface-bound multi-walled carbon nanotubes cause platelet activation in vitro and devastating thrombosis in an in vivo animal model of extracorporeal circulation. The mechanism of the pro-thrombotic effect likely involves direct multi-walled carbon nanotube-platelet interaction with Ca2 +-dependant platelet activation. These experiments provide evidence, for the first time, that modification of surfaces with nanomaterials modulates blood biocompatibility in extracorporeal circulation.From the Clinical EditorIn this study, the blood biocompatibility of polyvinyl chloride, surface-modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes was investigated both in vitro and in vivo, showing that surface-bound multi-walled carbon nanotubes cause platelet activation in vitro, and devastating thrombosis in an in vivo animal model of extracorporeal circulation.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-modified polyvinylchloride surfaces induce direct platelet activation and aggregation in a human in vitro model of extracorporeal circulation and massive thrombosis in a rabbit in vivo model of extracorporeal circulation.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (293 K)Download as PowerPoint slide