Investigation of protein adsorption on phosphorylcholine coated oxygenator fibers

The heart and the lungs must be temporarily deactivated during open heart surgery. During this temporary period, the circulation and respiration functions, which are the vital functions of the patient, are maintained with heart-lung pump. The oxygenator replaces the lungs and provides the oxygen required for maintaining the vital function of the patient. The air is introduced orally or nasally and after being filtered and warmed here, the air follows the pharynx and the esophagi and reaches to the bronchial tree after passing the trachea. The oxygenators are mediums where O2 and CO2 exchange is made. The membrane oxygenator has lower preliminary loading volume when compared to the bubble and film oxygenators and minimizes the traumas such as hemolysis as it provides better gas pass and as the gas and the blood are not in direct contact. A membrane oxygenator is formed by a gas-permeable thin membrane that separates the blood and gas flow at the extracorporeal circulation circuit. The contact of blood with the artificial surface might lead to systematic inflammation, tendency for hemorrhage and loss of organs. Various types of coating are developed for solution of these problems. Phosphorylcoline is a rather new type of coating amongst such coating types. The interaction of the biomaterial surfaces with the blood proteins set light to the biocompatibility studies. In this context the blood proteins adsorbed to the fiber surfaces were examined with nanotechnology and innovative biosensor methods. The total protein adsorbed were measured and compared with other coating types. Furthermore, the protein profile thickness adsorbed to the surface were examined with electron microscopy and nanotechnologic imaging methods.