Radioisotopic study of platelet affinity for different materials in order to evaluate their hemocompatibility

The method used is based on the study of interactions between a red blood cell and platelet suspension flowing according to Poiseuille type laminar conditions and tubes made of the medical grade materials studied under the effect of a two way syringe pump working in an aspiration system. Radioactive tracers are incorporated in red blood cells and platelets in order to maintain their biological properties and to guarantee an identical behaviour between labelled and non labelled cells. The detection and analysis of the radioactivity which is present on the exposed areas allows the quantitative measurement of the adhesion rate and the qualitative distribution of the remaining cells. Therefore in the in vitro study of hemocompatibility, the method described permits the accession to the following objectives: - it is possible to study and quantify the surface properties which determine the biological medium - material interaction; - to evaluate the homogeneity of the entire surface concerned; - to check if the materials coming from the same production process are identical and to classify a new material in comparison to materials defined as controls