The resistance of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) against protein adsorption is crucial and has been widely utilized in various biomedical applications. In this work, the complete protein composition of biofilms deposited on PEG-based surfaces from human blood plasma (BP) was identified for the first time using nanoLC-MS/MS, a powerful tool in protein analysis. The mass of deposited BP and the number of different proteins contained in the deposits on individual surfaces decreased in the order of self-assembling monolayers of oligo(ethylene glycol) alkanethiolates (SAM) > poly(ethylene glycol) end-grafted onto a SAM > poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) brushes prepared by surface initiated polymerization (poly(OEGMA)). The BP deposit on the poly(OEGMA) surface was composed only of apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B-100, complement C3, complement C4-A, complement C4-B, histidine-rich glycoprotein, Ig mu chain C region, fibrinogen (Fbg), and serum albumin (HSA). The total resistance of the surface to the Fbg and HSA adsorption from single protein solutions suggested that their deposition from BP was mediated by some of the other proteins. Current theories of protein resistance are not sufficient to explain the observed plasma fouling. The research focused on the identified proteins, and the experimental approach used in this work can provide the basis for the understanding and rational design of plasma-resistant surfaces.

Fibrinogen adsorption on a surface results in the modification of its functional characteristics. Our previous studies revealed that fibrinogen adsorbs onto surfaces essentially in 2 different orientations depending on its concentration in the solution: "side-on" at low concentrations and "end-on" at high concentrations. In the present study, we analyzed the thrombin-mediated release of fibrinopeptides A and B (FpA and FpB) from fibrinogen adsorbed in these orientations, as well as from surface-bound fibrinogenfibrin complexes prepared by converting fibrinogen adsorbed in either orientation into fibrin and subsequently adding fibrinogen. The release of fibrinopeptides from surface-adsorbed fibrinogen and from surface-bound fibrinogen-fibrin complexes differed significantly compared with that from fibrinogen in solution. The release of FpB occurred without the delay (lag phase) characteristic of its release from fibrinogen in solution. The amount of FpB released from end-on adsorbed fibrinogen and from adsorbed fibrinogenfibrin complexes was much higher than that of FpA. FpB is known as a potent chemoattractant, so its preferential release suggests a physiological purpose in the attraction of cells to the site of injury. The N-terminal portions of fibrin ␤ chains including residues B␤15-42, which are exposed after cleavage of FpB, have been implicated in many processes, including angiogenesis and inflammation. (Blood. 2011;117(5):1700-1706) IntroductionFibrinogen, one of the most abundant proteins in blood, plays a key role in hemostasis, inflammation, wound healing, and additional physiological and pathological processes. Immediately after blood comes in contact with artificial materials or with an injured vessel wall subendothelium, fibrinogen rapidly adsorbs on the surface and interacts with adhered activated platelets and subendothelial proteins. Numerous studies have demonstrated that fibrinogen in solution and fibrinogen adsorbed on various surfaces exhibit different properties. [1][2][3][4] For example, surface-adsorbed fibrinogen changes its conformation and thus reveals multiple binding sites that interact with the receptors on platelets and leukocytes. 5,6 These reciprocal interactions participate in the process of blood clot formation and in the inflammatory response. Platelet adhesion promoted by the deposition of fibrinogen might contribute to the development of the inflammatory response during ischemia reperfusion. The structural properties of fibrinogen play a key role in its interactions with various biomolecules and cell types.Fibrinogen is a 340-kDa plasma glycoprotein with a complex structure. The fibrinogen molecule consists of 2 identical subunits, each composed of 3 nonidentical polypeptide chains, A␣, B␤, and ␥. These chains are linked together by 29 disulfide bonds and form several structural regions, 2 distal D regions, one central E region, and 2 ␣C regions. 7 Each pair of distal nodules is linked with the central nodule by a triple helical coiled-coil connector composed of the middle po...

A technique for coating surfaces with attached fibrin structures without the formation of fibrin gel in bulk solution was developed. It is based on the catalytic effect of the surface-bound thrombin on fibrinogen stabilized with inhibitor which inhibits thrombin in solution but not the thrombin on the surface. Such an inhibitor is antithrombin, the effect of which may be enhanced with heparin. Fibrinogen is first adsorbed on the substrate surface and then incubated with thrombin. The unbound thrombin is washed out and the surface is incubated with fibrinogen solution containing antithrombin III and heparin. A fibrin gel forms at the surface by the action of surface-bound thrombin on ambient fibrinogen solution; however, the gel formation in bulk solution catalyzed by thrombin partially released from the surface is suppressed. By utilizing antithrombin-independent inhibitors or repeating thrombin binding and incubation with fibrinogen solution, the amount of surface-attached fibrin gel can be controlled. The formation of immobilized fibrin networks was observed using surface plasmon resonance and turbidity measurements and morphology was observed by TEM, SEM, and AFM. Using this technique, a porous scaffold made of polylactide fibers was coated with fibrin without filling the space between fibers with a bulk fibrin gel. The technique makes it possible to coat the inner surface of porous scaffolds with surface-attached fibrin gel while preserving free volume for cell migration into the pores.

Three types of covalently crosslinked assemblies consisting of multiple (1) molecular layers of human serum albumin (HSA); (2) alternating layers of HSA and unfractionated heparin; and (3) alternating layers of HSA and partly depolymerized heparin fixed with one end to HSA were prepared on various surfaces. Adsorption of fibrinogen, IgG, and antithrombin (ATIII) from human citrated plasma on coated surfaces was evaluated by ELISA. Fibrinogen adsorption on coated ELISA plates was lower than that on bare polystyrene. There was no IgG adsorption on the HSA coating alone, but considerably high IgG adsorption was detected on the heparin-containing surface. The adsorption of ATIII increased with increasing heparin on the surface. The effect of multilayer coatings on platelets was tested by incubation of modified vascular prostheses with citrated blood. The most favorable interaction with platelets was observed on the HSA assembly. The interaction of platelets with the surface bearing unfractionated heparin was higher than that of the surface covered with partly depolymerized heparin. The long-term durability of the HSA-heparin coating was proven by a 21-day implantation of coated polyurethane plates in goat heart.

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