Bioinspired active hemocompatible coating systems for mechanical circulatory support devices: when engineering meets nano and molecular technology

Industrial manufacturing is undergoing a biological transformation, which has become a growing part of current research in production engineering. The technologies involved help to translate innovative approaches into existing or novel medical devices. Currently, however, even the most advanced blood contacting medical devices fail to be sufficiently inert to blood, thus causing acute effects – coagulation, inflammation, embolism, stroke – as well as chronic ones – inflammation and chronic use of anticoagulants. We present the marriage of advanced molecular science, nanotechnology and advanced production engineering to improve the hemocompatibility of hemodynamic systems, such as artificial hearts. Our consortium has joined forces to develop nature-inspired coating systems that improve hemocompatibility, prohibit adhesion of bacteria and minimize the growth of dangerous large thrombi. We achieve this by (1) concealing the presence of the titanium surface, thereby minimizing the activation of inflammatory and coagulatory reactions, (2) locally inactivating those molecules that cause uncontrolled coagulation, (3) directing the blood to use its own fibrinolytic system to digest the clot and (4) introducing micro surface patterns that interfere with the flow near the surface generating shear, which in turn prohibits dangerous clots from growing. In vitro tests demonstrate considerable improvement in hemocompatibility.