A novel textured surface for blood-contact

Blood-contacting surface modifications aimed at reduction of thromboembolic complications have included the texturing of surfaces so as to promote the formation of a stable pseudo-neointima. A technique has been developed whereby a textured surface consisting of regularly spaced micro-fibres was produced on a smooth base plane. Polyurethane vascular patches with and without the textured luminal surface were fabricated and implanted bilaterally in ovine carotid arteries for 1- and 3-week implantation periods (n=6 per period). One of 6 arteries with textured patches in the 1-week group was occluded. All other arteries were patent. At 1 week, all patent textured patches had adherent thrombus covering the entire patch surface. By 3 weeks, the thrombus had organised to form a stable pseudo-neointima. Non-textured patches at 1 week had only partial surface coverage of thrombus. At 3 weeks, 4 of 6 non-textured patches had significant red thrombus in the lumen. At 3 weeks, there was also evidence of cellular migration from artery onto both textured and non-textured patches. These findings suggest that the major role of the textured surface was as a promoter of a stabilised thrombus base onto which subsequent cellular migration and tissue healing occurred more rapidly than onto a smooth polyurethane surface.