A bioinspired omniphobic surface coating on medical devices prevents thrombosis and biofouling

Nat Biotechnol. 2014 Nov;32(11):1134-40. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3020. Epub 2014 Oct 12.

Abstract

Thrombosis and biofouling of extracorporeal circuits and indwelling medical devices cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. We apply a bioinspired, omniphobic coating to tubing and catheters and show that it completely repels blood and suppresses biofilm formation. The coating is a covalently tethered, flexible molecular layer of perfluorocarbon, which holds a thin liquid film of medical-grade perfluorocarbon on the surface. This coating prevents fibrin attachment, reduces platelet adhesion and activation, suppresses biofilm formation and is stable under blood flow in vitro. Surface-coated medical-grade tubing and catheters, assembled into arteriovenous shunts and implanted in pigs, remain patent for at least 8 h without anticoagulation. This surface-coating technology could reduce the use of anticoagulants in patients and help to prevent thrombotic occlusion and biofouling of medical devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Biofouling / prevention & control*
  • Catheters / microbiology
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / therapeutic use*
  • Equipment and Supplies / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Surface Properties
  • Swine
  • Thrombosis / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible