Platelet storage. Effects of leachable materials on morphology and function

Abstract

A polyolefin plastic (PL 732) bag formulated without liquid plasticizer allows storage of platelets for 5 and, now, up to 7 days. In order to assess the leaching of compounds from this new plastic, extracts of the supernatant from platelet concentrates stored in these bags were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and gas-liquid chromatography. A leachable material was detected and identified as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). During the sterilization process, migration of the DEHP occurs from the polyvinylchloride (PVC) bags into the PL 732 plastic bag. The level of DEHP was 12-fold less in the extracts of PC supernatant stored in the PL 732 bag than those in the polyvinyl chloride (PL 146) plastic bags which were used previously for platelet storage. Platelets stored in low DEHP concentrations in the PL 732 bags were composed of 10 to 35 percent of unclassifiable shapes. These shape changes were not observed in higher concentrations of plasticizer, although the morphology scores decreased during storage in PL 146 as well. This effect on morphology was not related directly to the dose of DEHP. When platelet membranes were isolated from platelets stored in the presence of radiolabeled DEHP, the amount of bound 14C-DEHP was found to be directly proportional to the concentration of DEHP in the plasma supernatant. However, while there was a linear relationship between the protein concentration in the membrane fraction and the amount of bound DEHP, no specific DEHP binding site could be identified by electrophoresis of the solubilized platelet membranes.

A Novel Second-Generation Polyolefin Container for Storage of Single-Donor Apheresis Platelets

“…Ishikawa et al [16] and Ishikawa and Sasawaka [17] already reported that DEHP reduced these responses. PO containers did not contain any plasticizer, although a small but significant amount of DEHP migrated into containers during autoclaving [18]. Therefore, platelets might be stored in PO containers in a more intact condition.…”

Effects of Autoclave Sterilization on the Physical Properties of Storage Bags and Granulocyte Function

“…It is reported that migration of DEHP plasticizer occurs from PVC bags into other connected bags during the process of AC sterilization [7], However, the amounts of DEHP and TOTM plasticizers leached from the bags in the open system during AC sterilization were the same as those from the bags on the closed system (data not shown). Furthermore, there were no effects of tempera ture and steam on the hydrolysis and dénaturation of plasticizers.…”

“…PVC bags, in which DEHP leaching is prevented by glow-discharge treatment [1][2][3], or with the less leachable plasticizer, tri-(2-ethylhexyl)trimellitate (TOTM), are effective for the maintenance of granulocyte [1] and platelet [4][5][6] functions. It was recently reported that DEHP migrates from PVC bags during the autoclaving (AC) process [7], However, changes in granulocyte function have not been investigated in other bags sterilized with AC. We exam ined the effects of AC and ethylene oxide (EO) steriliza tion upon leaching of plasticizer, C02 gas permeability, surface area, the surface wettability of bags and the func tion of granulocytes stored for 48 h at 22 °C.…”

Effect of Centrifugation on the Storage Properties of Platelets

“…5) [2,3,8], LDH discharge and changes in cell morphology are less in the DEHP-containing first gener ation of bags [1,8]. DEHP prevents the development of morphologically altered platelets [11], decreases platelet aggregation by inhibiting phospholipase A2 [12].…”