In this work, we investigated the blood platelet adhesion and activation of truly superhemophobic surfaces and compared them with that of hemophobic surfaces and hemophilic surfaces. Our analysis indicates that only those superhemophobic surfaces with a robust Cassie-Baxter state display significantly lower platelet adhesion and activation. The understanding gained through this work will lead to the fabrication of improved hemocompatible, superhemophobic medical implants.

This disclosure provides a method for improving maturation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in a patient in need of hemodialysis, which method entails applying a solution to the internal wall of a lumen of an AVF; and restoring or initiating blood flow in the AVF, wherein the solution comprises an effective amount of a synthetic proteoglycan comprises a glycan having from about 1 to about 80 collagen-binding peptide(s) bonded to the glycan. Also provided are methods for preparing a vascular graft for a bypass surgery, comprising contacting the internal wall of a section of a blood vessel with a solution comprising an effective amount of the synthetic proteoglycan.

Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including an ionically-charged modifier provide enhanced properties. The polyurethane-based resin is a reaction product of ingredients comprising: a diisocyanate; a diol chain extender; a polyglycol; and an ionically-charged modifier incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin. Embodiments include the ionically-charged modifier is a combination of anionic and cationic modifiers. Embodiments include the ionically-charged modifier is zwitterionic. Medical articles herein either have inherent antimicrobial and/or anti-fouling characteristics or can easily bond ionic active agents to provide desirable material properties, including antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or radiopacity.

Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including an ionically-charged modifier provide enhanced properties. The polyurethane-based resin is a reaction product of ingredients comprising: a diisocyanate; a diol chain extender; a polyglycol; and an anionic modifier incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin. Exemplary anionic modifier includes 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid (BHMBA) and/or bis-1,4-((2-hydroxypropoxy)-2-propoxy)-butane sulfonate sodium salt (SULFADIOL®-7Q). Medical articles herein either have inherent antimicrobial and/or anti-fouling characteristics or can easily bond cationic active agents to provide desirable material properties, including antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or radiopacity.

A method of manufacturing a medical product having an engineered heparin bioactive matrix for clinical application on a blood contacting surface comprises: a) activating a blood contacting surface of at least one component of a medical device via one of plasma treatment or gas activation; b) assembling the medical product; c) Setting up medical device for wet chemistry in which wet chemistry treatments follows a blood flow path through device; d) enhancing at least the blood contacting surface with a wet chemistry treatment including an aqueous solution having a strong oxidizing agent, such as ammonium persulfate; e) adding a positively charged spacer molecule to at least the blood contacting surface with a wet chemistry treatment including an aqueous solution having a cationic polymer, such as PEI; and f) covalently immobilizing heparin to at least the blood contacting surface with a wet chemistry treatment including heparin, preferably deaminated heparin.

The present invention relates to the coating of a range of functional heparins onto the surface of a substrate for which hemocompatibility is a key functional characteristic, such that the functionality of the functional heparin is maintained. The approach employs a metal coordination complex to bind to the substrate with the functional heparin binding to the metal coordination complex to thereby impart hemocompatibility.

Described are methods for embedding one or more therapeutic agents into vascular grafts and other scaffold-based devices, and methods of implanting vascular grafts comprising tubular scaffolds into subjects. The tubular scaffolds comprise hydrogel nanofibers that have internally aligned polymer chains and may contain one or more therapeutic agents.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods relating to the use of stents treated with therapeutic biologics for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and conditions. In particular, the present disclosure provides novel compositions and methods for conjugating therapeutic extracellular vesicles to a stent to not only regulate vascular remodeling and inflammation, but also promote the regeneration of the injured tissue.

Implantable pressure-actuated systems to deliver a drug and/or other substance in response to a pressure difference between a system cavity and an exterior environment, and methods of fabrication and use. A pressure-rupturable membrane diaphragm may be tuned to rupture at a desired rupture threshold, rupture site, with a desired rupture pattern, and/or within a desired rupture time. Tuning may include material selection, thickness control, surface patterning, substrate support patterning. The cavity may be pressurized above or evacuated below the rupture threshold, and a diaphragm-protective layer may be provided to prevent premature rupture in an ambient environment and to dissipate within an implant environment. A drug delivery system may be implemented within a stent to release a substance upon a decrease in blood pressure. The cavity may include a thrombolytic drug to or other substance to treat a blood clot.

In this work, we investigated the blood platelet adhesion and activation of truly superhemophobic surfaces and compared them with that of hemophobic surfaces and hemophilic surfaces. Our analysis indicates that only those superhemophobic surfaces with a robust Cassie-Baxter state display significantly lower platelet adhesion and activation. The understanding gained through this work will lead to the fabrication of improved hemocompatible, superhemophobic medical implants.