Surface modification of polypropylene nonwovens with LDV peptidomimetics and their application in the leukodepletion of blood products

Abstract

For clinical indications and according to European standards, a depletion of the leukocytes from whole blood has to be realized before transfusion to a patient. In this study, the surface of a layer of meltblown oxygen-plasma treated polypropylene nonwoven (O(2)-PP), making part of the composition of leukodepletion filters, was modified with bioactive molecules to enhance the adhesion of leukocytes. These synthetic small molecules (called peptidomimetics) mimic the "Leu-Asp-Val" (LDV) tripeptide sequence recognized by the α(4)β(1) integrin, a receptor expressed on leukocytes. Their activity, as ligands of the α(4)β(1) integrin, was confirmed through cell adhesion assays. The peptidomimetics were covalently immobilized on O(2)-PP nonwoven via activation of the hydroxyl- and carboxyl-functions displayed on the polymer surface with trifluoro-triazine reagent, or were simply deposited on the O(2)-PP surface. The treated materials were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, wettability, and morphological analyses, before and after steam sterilization. Experimental filters composed of 10 layers of O(2)-PP nonwovens and a last layer modified with the peptidomimetics were evaluated, using whole blood filtration assays, for their leukodepletion efficiency, the recovery of red cells and platelets and the waste of blood, with an objective to design new filters fulfilling practical and medical criteria.

Application of 4T-PET fibers/nonwovens for leucocyte filters

“…PP NW has been widely used for leucocyte filtration due to the good physical and chemical properties [16,17]. The aim of this study was to investigate whether 4T-PET NW could enhance the leucodepletion efficiency of PP NW by designing a series of 4T-PET/PP NW filters for leucocyte filtration.…”

Investigation of the potency of leukodepletion filter membranes immobilized with bovine serum albumin via polydopamine spacer

“…There was a controversial disparity in the performance of the membranes under in vitro conditions and during filtration, because the adhesion of various components and the factors leading to them is entirely different under stationary (in vitro) and dynamic flowing conditions. It is noticeable that there are quite many investigations focusing on the surface modification of commercially available leukodepletion filter membranes and assessment of their efficiency only by in vitro blood-material interactions [44,45]. Very few researchers delved into the utility of such membrane toward a typical device filtration.…”

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“…As far as non peptide mimetics are concerned, covalent surface grafting technique has been developed for blood filtration membrane. It has potential applications for depletion of leukocyte from blood products 77 . The α 4 β 1 integrin plays an important role in the transport of mononuclear leukocytes to sites of inflammation.…”