Medical devices and products having coatings applied thereto

[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/790,395, filed on Feb. 21, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,922, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/388,913 filed on Sep. 1, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,454 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/211,620, filed on Dec. 15, 1998 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/971,887, filed on Nov. 17, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,217, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/810,751, filed on Mar. 4, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,483, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/323,559, filed on Oct. 17, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,985.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to medical devices and products. More specifically the present invention relates to medical devices and products that are coated with a material to provide improved characteristics.

[0003] There are literally thousands of products that are used in the medical industry for a variety of treatments and therapies. The surface characteristics of some of these products may be critical to the ability of the products to function. Such products run the gamut from membranes used in blood and cell separation devices, theracyte devices, dialyzers, arterial filters, catheters, wound drains, vascular grafts, and heart valve tissues.

[0004] For example, a slippery or low friction surface property is required in various medical devices. These devices include wound drains, chest tubes, guide wires, catheters, and angioplasty products. A lubricious surface is desirable as it reduces pain to the patient during insertion and/or removal of the device.

[0005] It is also desirable, on a number of medical products, to provide a surface that has anti-microbial properties. Likewise, medical devices that have surfaces that are non-thrombogenic are valuable in many applications.

[0006] In certain applications, it is also desirable to provide a surface that binds to certain type of cells or agents. For example, such products may be desirable for implantable biological tissue such as bioprosthetic valves.

[0007] By way of further and more detailed example, in processing whole blood for therapeutic administration to patients, it is desirable to separate the various cellular components. In particular, it is desirable to remove leukocytes because of their role in mediating immunologic reactions which can cause adverse clinical events such as allosensitization. For a review of adverse clinical sequellae to transfusion, see Sekiguchi, et al., Leucocyte-depleted blood products and their clinical usefulness, Ch. 5, pg. 26-33, from The Role of Leucocyte Depletion in Blood Transfusion Practice (1988). Furthermore, leukocytes are unessential for therapeutic supplementation of cell deficiencies in patients involving platelets and red cells. Thus, filter systems have been devised for passaging blood cells in order to remove leukocytes while allowing platelets or red blood to pass through for subsequent recovery.

[0008] There have been a number of approaches reported for leukocyte depletion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,410 discloses a packed fiber mass with leukodepletion properties comprising fibers of cellulose acetate, acrylonitrile, polyamide, or polyester. U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,572 discloses the use of a gelatin coating to inhibit red blood cell (RBC) and platelet adhesion. Leukodepletion is accomplished primarily through physical entrainment of the cells in the fiber body, and adhesion of RBCs and platelets results from the gelatin coating. U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,998 discloses a strategy for leukodepletion in which a hydrophilic monomer containing hydroxyl or amido groups and functional nitrogen-containing groups such as primary or secondary amino groups is coated onto a filter matrix of known fibers such as polyester, polyamide, etc.

[0009] Modification of fiber surfaces has also been used to obtain materials with improved cell separation properties. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,130,642 discloses a packed column in which the packing material comprises an Egyptian cotton which has been de-fatted and bleached so that RBC readily pass through the column.

[0010] Some separation strategies involve multiple steps. U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,572 discloses a multistep method comprising an upstream porous element for removal of gels, a second element of finer porosity for removal of aggregated matter, and a final filtration step involving common fibers to which surface tension-reducing and improved wetting are obtained by radiation grafting of biocompatible moieties. Further description of leukodepletion methods is contained in Rikumaru, et al., Advanced methods for leucocyte removal by blood filtration, Ch. 6, pgs. 35-40, from The Role of Leucocyte Depletion in Blood Transfusion Practice (1988).

[0011] It is of utmost importance in designing leukodepletion strategies in which one goal is to obtain good recoveries of platelets and RBCs, to achieve separations without activating platelets or complement. It is also important that any coatings utilized to enhance the separations not be leached into solution, since the recovered cells are intended for intravascular administration to patients. One approach embodies a filter composed of a porous polymer material with continuous pore structure having a coating combining a nitrogen-containing functional group with a polyethylene oxide chain having 2-15 repeating units (See Jap. Kokai Patent Application No. Hei 5 [1993]-194243). This material is said to entrap leukocytes while giving high yields of platelets.

[0012] The use of polyalkylene oxide polymers is well-known in the construction of biocompatible materials, because of its low biological activity in activating cellular and humoral components of blood, and in stimulating immune responses. However, the inertness of the polyalkylene oxide polymers may also interfere with the degree of separation that can be obtained with cell separation filters, unless combined with functional groups that enhance separation parameters. A suitable combination of coating components has not heretofore been developed which is efficacious for cell separations from whole blood as distinct from semi-purified cell suspension mixtures.

[0013] Likewise, for a number of other medical products, a suitable material or combination for coating products has not been provided.

[0014] The present invention provides improved methods for coating medical products and devices. Additionally, the present invention provides improved coated medical devices and products.

[0015] Summarizing briefly, the present invention provides, in an embodiment, medical devices which are coated, at least in part, with a chemical condensation product, prepared by reaction in-situ of a first electrophilically active, high molecular weight polyalkylene oxide, and a second high molecular weight polyalkylene oxide derivative. In an embodiment, the derivative can be either a tetraminopolyalkylene oxide or a bifunctional dihydroxy- or diamino-polyoxyalkylene derivative, or combination thereof. In another embodiment, the coating may be an isopolymer of a high molecular weight tetraacrylatepolyalkylene oxide, polymerized by exposure to radiation.

[0016] The condensation reaction occurs in-situ, e.g. after one polymer is placed onto a surface, the second polymer is then contacted with the surface and specifically the first polymer, and the condensation reaction occurs spontaneously at a temperature between 5 degrees and about 200 degrees centigrade. The electrophilically active, high molecular weight polyalkylene oxide compound has the general structure Y-PEO-R-PEO-Y wherein Y is a reactive moiety selected from an oxycarbonylimidazole, tresyl-, tosyl-, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl, and p-nitrophenyl-activated esters; acrylates; glycidyl ethers; and aldehydes. The oxycarbonylimidazole leaving group is preferred, as will be apparent from the detailed specification, R is a spacer molecule (a chemical backbone) consisting of either bisphenol A (4,4′-(1-methylethylidene)bisphenol) or bisphenol B (4,4′-(1-methylpropylidene)bisphenol), and PEO stands for polyalkylene oxide.

[0017] In a method of preparing the material of the present invention, a first polymer comprising an electrophilically active, high molecular weight polyalkylene oxide compound, having terminal leaving groups as indicated herein above, oxycarbonylimidazole being preferred, is applied to the surface, then drying the first polymer onto the surface, followed by applying a second polymer consisting of either a tetramino-, a diamino-, or a dihydroxy-polyalkylene oxide, or combination thereof. The reaction between the polymers occurs spontaneously, and an incubation at a temperature from about 5 degrees to about 200 degrees Centigrade is continued for a time sufficient to obtain substantial completion of crosslinking.

[0018] To this end, in an embodiment, the present invention provides a medical device comprising a body member and a coating on at least a portion of the body member comprising an in-situ condensation product of a first electrophilically active, high molecular weight polyalkylene oxide and a second high molecular weight polyoxyalkylene derivative.

[0019] In an embodiment, the portion of the body member is constructed at least in part from polyvinyl chloride.

[0020] In an embodiment, the portion of the body is constructed at least in part from silicone.

[0021] In an embodiment, the portion of the body is biological tissue.

[0022] In an embodiment, the coating provides a lubricious surface.

[0023] In an embodiment, the coating includes a third component.

[0024] In an embodiment, the coating includes a functional group that modifies the surface.

[0025] In an embodiment, the functional group is chosen from the group consisting of anti-coagulants, heparin, hirudin, anti-microbial, proteins, peptides, and biopolymers.

[0026] In an embodiment, the coating provides a multilayer structure.

[0027] In an embodiment, the coating provides an anti-thrombogenic surface.

[0028] In an embodiment, the coating provides a noninflammatory surface.

[0029] In an embodiment, the coating provides an anti-bacterial surface.

[0030] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a medical device designed to be at least partially inserted into a patient comprising a body member that includes on a portion thereof a coating of a polyalkylene oxide that is cross-linked with a polyalkylene oxide derivative to form a coating that provides a lubricous surface.

[0031] In an embodiment, the coating includes water.

[0032] In an embodiment, the coating includes a functional group that provides a modified surface property to the coating.

[0033] In an embodiment, the device is a catheter.

[0034] In an embodiment, the device is a wound drain.

[0035] In an embodiment, the device is a guide wire.

[0036] In an embodiment, the device is a chest tube.

[0037] In an embodiment, the portion thereof is constructed from silicone.

[0038] In an embodiment, the portion thereof is constructed from polyvinyl chloride.

[0039] In another embodiment, the present invention provides an implantable biological tissue comprising a biological tissue and a coating thereon including a multilayer surface including a high molecular weight polyalkylene oxide derivative and a biopolymer.

[0040] In an embodiment, the tissue is a vascular graft.

[0041] In an embodiment, the tissue is a heart valve tissue.

[0042] In an embodiment, the tissue is a synthetic membrane.

[0043] In a still further embodiment, the present invention provides a bioprosthetic device comprising a biological tissue coated at least in part with a coating including a polyalkylene oxide derivative that is cross-linked with a polyalkylene oxide derivative.

[0044] Additionally, the present invention provides methods of providing medical devices. In an embodiment, the method comprising the steps of providing a medical device having a body and coating at least a portion of the body with a coating including a polyalkylene oxide derivative cross-linked with polyalkylene oxide derivative to modify the surface properties of the portion of the body.

[0045] Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

[0060] The present invention provides medical products having a coating applied thereto which changes the surface properties. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for producing such products.

[0061] Pursuant to the present invention products are provided having a surface thereof that includes a PEO cross-linked coated surface. Due to the modified PEO surface certain advantages are provided.

[0062] For example, improved bioprosthetic devices can be provided. In this regard, the PEO coating technology can be applied to various types of biological tissues, such as bovine pericardium or porcine aortic tissues, that have been chemically pre-treated with Denacol and/or glutaraldehyde for the development of bioprosthetic heart valves. The method is based on a preliminary coating of tissue in an aqueous solution containing electrophilically active PEO derivatives, preferably a bis-oxycarbonyl-diimidazole-active polyethylene oxide (Imz-polyethylene oxide), having an average molecular weight of 20,000 daltons. The resulting intermediate Imz-polyethylene oxide-activated tissue was further cross-linked with an amino-polyethylene oxide derivative (preferably of the same MW) to form a stable polyethylene oxide-coated surface.

[0063] This intermediate activated Imz-polyethylene oxide-coated tissue can also be used to couple proteins, such as avidin into this matrix. This avidin-polyethylene oxide-coated surface can be further employed to bind biotinylated agents, such as peptides like GREDVY, in order to produce surfaces capable of capturing endothelial cells.

[0064] PEO-coated tissues prepared by the above techniques have been shown to reduce fibrinogen binding, compared to uncoated tissue. Other potential advantages of such PEO-modified surfaces include: reduced protein adsorption; limit complement activation; eliminate protein aggregation; produce specific ligand or cell attachment sites through avidin-biotin chemistry; and intermediate activated PEO-coated-tissues can be used for attachment sites to other anti-calcification agents such as 2-amino-oleic acid or toluidine blue.

[0065] By way of further example, the surface of certain devices such as wound drains, chest tubes, guide wires, catheter, and angioplasty products can be modified with a PEO coating to make them lubricious. To this end, such lubricious surfaces can be produced using a simple surface modification technology based on a direct coating of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide derivatives onto polymeric tubes, using water as a solvent. The polymer materials can be varied from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to silicone or other type of polymers that are typically used for medical devices. These materials include polyurethane, polyolefine, polyethylene, polypropylene, metal or alloy.

[0066] The PEO derivatives are functionalized PEO that could contain an electrophilically active compound such as oxycarbonyl-imidazoyl-polyethylene oxide (Imz-polyethylene oxide) or nucleophilically active such as amino-polyethylene oxide (NH₂-polyethylene oxide). This technology provides a coating that generates low-friction or lubricious surfaces which also can limit fibrinogen adsorption. It has been found that the polyethylene oxide-coated PVC and polyethylene oxide-coated silicone tubes are stable in saline or plasma at 37° C. for several days. Also, they can be sterilized with ETO without loss of lubricity or of low protein adsorption properties.

[0067] This technology presents several advantages including a simple coating technology that uses water as a solvent. It also allows the production of lubricious surface on PVC and/or silicone surfaces. The production of products having surfaces with low fibrinogen adsorption. It provides the availability of functional groups that allow further surface modification (e.g., coupling with anti-coagulant substances, heparin or hirudin) or anti-microbial ligand (e.g. chitosan). The technology also provides a coating that can be also sterilized with ETO (or gamma) without loss of lubricity or low protein binding ability. The technology also provides the potential application to a variety of other synthetic polymers (polyurethane, polyethylene, polyolefine, and metal or alloy).

[0068] Still further pursuant to the present invention multilayer coating can be used to provide new surface modifications. To this end, the present invention provides a new surface modification method that is based on multilayer coatings between high molecular weight PEO derivatives and anti-coagulant biopolymers containing terminal primary amine groups.

[0069] The base material can be a wide variety of materials. For example, the base material, could be derived from any biological tissue such as vascular grafts or heart valve tissues, or synthetic membranes made from various hydrophobic or hydrophilic polymers. Biopolymers containing amino-terminal groups can be derived from carbohydrate structures such as heparin (glycosaminoglycan family) and chitosan or proteins such as hirudin.

[0070] FIG. 1 sets forth an example of a multilayer structure that can be produced. In the figure, the base material has thereon the multilayer coating. ABP refers to the anticoagulant biopolymers.

[0071] These multiple layers of coating may provide numerous advantages. One of the advantages is to provide a permanent coating technique that assures complete coverage of the base material. Additionally, the multiple layers allow the production of a highly anti-thrombogenic surface due to the combined presence of PEO and anticoagulants (heparin or hirudin). Further, the multiple layers allow the production of a non-inflammatory (e.g. non-complement activating) material due to the presence of PEO and heparin. Still further the multilayers allow the production of a potential anti-bacterial surface because of the presence of chitosan. The multilayer coating has applicability to multiple devices, including: membranes; theracyte devices; arterial filter membranes, and oxygenators; catheters, wound drains; and vascular grafts or heart valve tissues.

[0072] In another embodiment a blood cell fractionation means is provided comprising a matrix having a fibrous structure and the matrix further characterized in having a coating applied to it which changes its surface properties with respect to cellular adherence of blood cell containing fluid coming into contact therewith. The matrix can be a packing material contained within a column, or a fibrous material compressed into a filter and held in a filter housing of conventional design and construction, although other configurations of a solid matrix contacting a fluid are within the scope of the invention. In an embodiment, the coating of polymers and the chemical reactions which are carried out to create a generally molecularly continuous polymeric surface on the matrix fibers do not require covalent or noncovalent interaction with any chemical moiety present on the native surface of the matrix, the coating itself is independent of the chemical and physical identity of the matrix. Thus, the coating is intended to be universally applicable to any filter available in the cell separation art. Examples include, without limitation, filters having a high glass content, as in glass fiber mats, filters with less or no glass content such as a filter comprising a mixture of glass and polyester, and a polyethylene terephthalate platelet filter coated with hydroxyethylmethyl-methacrylate.

[0073] Filter housings which may be conveniently used are manufactured conventionally. Examples of such housing are Swinney plastic manifolds manufactured by Gelman, pediatric Enterprise Housings, or Intermediate Enterprise Housings. The correct size correlations of filters to correspondingly suitable housings will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The only limitation applicable to the blood cell fractionation means is a surface which is incompatible with the polymer solutions. Even in the instance where molecular wetting is not obtainable with the polymer solutions, techniques utilizing emulsifiers and phase penetrants may be useful in achieving adequate coating. To Applicants' knowledge, none of the blood cell fractionation filter materials currently available commercially are to be excluded from applicability to the present invention.

[0074] In the method of separating cells using the product of the invention, a cell suspension or whole blood is filtered through the filter having the polymer coating as disclosed. The leukocytes adhere, and the platelets and RBCs pass through the in the filtrate. More generalized methods of contacting the filter with a cell containing fluid are contemplated by this invention as well. For example, contracting by passaging through a packed column, or mixing cells in bulk with dispersed matrix in solution may be employed.

[0075] As noted above, the method of the present invention is applicable to a number of products and surfaces. For example, manufacturing ease, chemical condensation reaction of the respective polymers can be carried out insitu, i.e. a first free polymer is laid down on the matrix and dried, and then the second is contacted in solution with the matrix. The ensuing reaction then produces a skin-like sheet or layer of copolymerized material at the surface or the matrix. This reaction in a preferred embodiment proceeds spontaneously at temperatures generally in the range of 5 to 200 degrees centigrade. It is evident that the time for completion of the reaction will be slightly longer at cooler temperatures than for higher temperatures in accordance with kinetic thermodynamic principles. Generally, these reactions may be carried out at ambient temperatures, as disclosed in the Examples, but very little experimentation will be required by those skilled in the art to adjust the reaction times to a particular desired temperatures of reaction.

[0076] The first polymer to be contacted with the surface is a high molecular weight electrophilically active polyalkylene oxide. Electrophilically active means that a polyalkylene oxide polymer contains a oxycarbonyl moiety reactive with a nucleophilic center such as an amino or hydroxyl group contained in a second polymer. In a preferred embodiment, a primary amine serving as a nucleophile, reacts with the carbonyl group of the imidazole-polyalkylene oxide polymer to form, upon reaction, an N-substituted carbamate bond where the carbonyl moiety from a cross-linker is incorporated into the new bond. These polymer entities must be high molecular weight, in the range of about 13,000 to 24,000 daltons, preferably about 20,000 daltons. Thus preferred molecules shown in FIG. 2 for reaction on surfaces will have n values of about 100-225.

[0077] A first electrophilic polyalkylene oxide polymer will have a terminal leaving group reactive with an amine or hydroxyl containing second polyalkylene oxide. Suitable leaving groups on the first polymer for achieving acceptable chemical condensation are imidazoyl-, tresyl-, tosyl-, acryloyl-, and N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-. Additionally the structure of the electrophilic polymer can further be defined by the general expression: Y-PEO-R-PEO-Y, wherein Y is selected from the following group singly or in combination: oxycarbonylimidazole; tresyl-, tosyl-, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-, and p-nitrophenyl-activated esters; acrylates; glycidyl ethers; and aldehydes, and R is a spacer defined as a backbone to which the two polyalkylene arms are attached, consisting preferably of bisphenol A or B. Bisphenol A is preferred, as shown in the structure of FIG. 2.

[0078] We have also determined that in certain applications the imidazole derived polyalkylene oxides provide excellent results, perhaps because the reaction proceeds somewhat better, or perhaps because residual unreacted groups improve leukoadhesion. In any event, Applicants do not wish to be bound to any particular theory, but disclose the result as a guide to those experienced in the art. In general, polyalkylene means polyethylene or polypropylene, since these are the most common polyalkylene oxides used in biocompatibility applications. However, Applicants consider other polyalkylene oxides up to polybutylene oxide to be within the scope of the invention.

[0079] In an embodiment, a tetra or diacrylate terminal derivative of polyalkylene oxide may be isopolymerized by first contacting with the surface, followed by irradiation with UV light or gamma rays to effect free radical polymerization. When used for blood filtration, the resulting coated filter matrix is leukodepletive with adequate recoveries of platelets and red bloods cells, but is not a efficacious as the other embodiments of the invention set forth herein.

[0080] In a method of the present invention, insitu chemical condensation can be carried out to mold the copolymer skin to the contours of the matrix fiber bed. It is important that the electrophilically active polyalkylene oxide be deposited on the matrix first, dried, and then further contracted with the second amino- or hydroxy-containing nucleophilic polymer. This teaching arises from empirical observation as to which method steps give best results in terms of platelet and RBC recovery, and leukodepletion, and the mechanistic or molecular basis for the observation is unknown to Applicants. In the drying step, drying in ambient air is adequate to “fix” the polymer in position, but light to moderate heat at various humidities down to less than 5% humidity or in vacuo may be applied to hasten the drying step in a manufacturing context.

[0081] The copolymerized material is highly stable to leaching, as shown in some of the Examples. In contrast to unreacted single polymer labeled with 125, which is readily leached into filtrate, the fully copolymerized material made according to a method of the present invention is highly resistant to leaching, and is stable for preparation of therapeutically acceptable cell fractions.

[0082] By way of example, and not limitation, examples of the present invention will now be given.

[0083] Oxycarbonyl imidazole-polyethylene oxide (Imz-polyethylene oxide) with an average molecular weight of 20 K daltons (Sigma Chemical Company), was first coated onto existing Asahi R-2000 filters by soaking the filter mats in a 2.5% solution of Irz-polyethylene oxide. The mats were dried under vacuum. The amount of Imz-polyethylene oxide bound to the mat was about 70 mg/gram of filter mat. Dried Imz-polyethylene oxide-coated mats were cross-linked with bis[polyoxyethylene bis(amine)] (TAPEO, 20 K daltons), obtained from Sigma Chemical Company. The cross-linking reaction was performed by soaking the lmz-polyethylene oxide-coated mat in a water-methanol (1:1) solution of TAPEO at a 2.5 to 5.0 fold molar excess over the bound Imz-polyethylene oxide. The reaction was allowed to proceed for at least 24 hours. The mats were dried again under vacuum. Dried cross-linked mats were washed extensively by soaking with water several times to remove any unbound polyethylene oxide. After the final wash, the mats were dried again under a high vacuum. Cross-linked mats were stored at room temperature until used for blood filtration. In this example, the mats were used with pooled (ABO compatible), one day old, human whole blood, obtained from Interstate Blood Bank. The pooled whole blood was suspended about 3 feet above the filter unit, and the blood was allowed to flow by gravity through each of the different types of polyethylene oxide-filter mats. An aliquot of whole blood (20 to 30 ml) was taken from the unit before filtration and was saved as a control (pre-sample). The filtered blood (post samples) and the pre-samples were counted for platelets with a Sysmex K-1000 cell counter and the WBC concentrations were determined by staining WBC nuclei (after lysing the sample) with propidium iodide and analyzing the stained samples with a FacScan flow cytometer. The results of WBC depletion and platelet recovery are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively. The degree of platelet recovery ranged from 75 to 80% with lmz-polyethylene oxide-coated mats vs 0.5% for the uncoated mats. The amount of WBC depletion remained unchanged, in the range of 3 to 4 logs for all of the mats (Table 1).

[0084]

TABLE 1
Filtration of Whole Blood Through Polyethylene oxide-Coated And
Uncoated Asahi R-2000 Filter Mats
		WBC Depletion	PLATELET
		Depletion	Recovery
	SAMPLE	(log)	(% Pre)
	Imz-PEG	3.25	80
	(no crosslinking)
	2.5x Crosslinked	3.39	74
	(Mat #1)
	2.5x Crosslinked	3.75	74
	(Mat #1)
	Uncoated	3.73	0.5

[0085] In this experiment, variable such as the age of the blood and the storage temperature were evaluated. The same polyethylene oxide coated Asahi R-2000 filter mats described above were used for these studies. Units of whole blood were obtained fresh in-house, and stored at room temperature until used (about 2 hours). One day old blood, stored at room temperature or 4 degrees centigrade, were also obtained form Interstate Blood Bank. Each unit was allowed to flow through each polyethylene oxide-coated filter and the samples were analyzed as described above. The results, summarized in Table 2, suggest that despite the utilization of various units of whole blood stored under different conditions, the yield of platelets obtained from polyethylene oxide-coated Asahi R-2000 filters is dramatically improved (68 to 83%) as compared to uncoated mats (2%).

[0086]

TABLE 2
Filtration Of Whole Blood Through Polyethylene oxide-Coated And
Uncoated Asahi R-2000 Filters
		WBC	PLATELET
		Depletion	Recovery
	SAMPLE	(log)	(% Pre)
	Polyethylene oxide-	−2.63	83
	Cross Linked-Mats:
	Interstate-RT
	(1 day old) #1
	Interstate-RT	−4.01	68
	(1 day old) #2
	Interstate-4° C.	−3.22	80
	(1 day old) #3
	In-house-RT (~2 hrs)	−3.25	76
	#1
	Uncoated Mats:	−3.50	02
	Interstate-RT
	(1 day old) #1

[0087] In this example, tetraacrylate polyethylene oxide derivatives were obtained either from Shearwater Polymer Inc., or synthesized from polyethylene oxide 20 K daltons obtained from Sigma (FIG. 2). The acrylate-polyethylene oxide derivatives were coated onto composite mats by the same procedure as described in Example 1. The dried acrylate-polyethylene oxide-coated mats were subjected to gamma irradiation at a low dosage (2 megarads) to facilitate cross-linking of the polyethylene oxide coating. The dried, coated mats were cut into circles of about 1.50 inches, and 3 layers of mats were placed into a small pediatric-sized housing for whole blood evaluation. One day old pooled whole blood, obtained from Interstate Blood Bank was used. The final volume of blood used per housing was about 75 ml. The results of these experiments, summarized in Table 3, demonstrate the improvement in platelet recovery upon coating mats with the polyethylene oxide derivatives. However, the improvement in platelet recovery seen with the acrylate polyethylene oxide derivatives is not as good as was observed with the Imz-polyethylene oxide coated mats.

[0088]

TABLE 3
Filtration Of Whole Blood Through Various Crylate-Polyethylene oxide-
Coated and Uncoated Composite Filters
		WBC Depletion	PLATELET
		Depletion	Recovery
	SAMPLE	(log)	(% Pre)
	Uncoated	−2.20	43
	Sigma-Tetra-Acrylate-20K	−1.62	69
	Shearwater-Tetra-ACR-14K	−2.04	56
	Sigma-Tetra-Acrylate-20K	−1.64	65
	Irradiated
	Shearwater-Tetra-ACR-14K	−1.91	65
	Irradiated

[0089] The stability of these polyethylene oxide coatings was investigated using radioactively labeled ¹²⁵I-Imz-polyethylene oxide and ¹²⁵I-Tetramino-polyethylene oxide. The presence of the bis phenol A units in the structure of Imz-polyethylene oxide or Tetramino-polyethylene oxide derivatives permitted conventional labeling of these molecules using ¹²⁵I and iodo beads (Pierce Chemical Co.). In the first set of experiments, the ¹²⁵I-Imz-polyethylene oxide was first coated onto the mats and was cross-linked with unlabeled Tetramino-polyethylene oxide. In the second set of experiments, unlabeled Imz-polyethylene oxide O was coated onto the mats and then cross-linked with ¹²⁵I-Tetramino-polyethylene oxide. Each ¹²⁵I-polyethylene oxide coated mat was evaluated in a Swinney housing (using a filter about 1 cm in diameter) with fresh whole blood. Four fractions of blood filtrate (˜1 ml each) were collected and counted for the presence of ¹²⁵I-polyethylene oxide derivatives with a gamma counter. Each ¹²⁵I-polyethylene oxide-coated filter mat was also counted for radioactivity, before and after filtration. The amount of labeled polyethylene oxide recovered on the mats after whole blood filtration varied from 87% to 95%. In contrast, 35% of the labeled Imz-polyethylene oxide was leached off filter mats where no crosslinking reaction was performed.

[0090]

TABLE 4
Stability Of Polyethylene oxide-Coated Asahi R-2000 Filter Mats
Measured With 125I-Imz-Polyethylene oxide or 125I-Tetraamino-
Polyethylene oxide
	125I-Polyethylene oxide Coated
	Mats Recovered
	After Filtration
SAMPLE With 125I-Label	(% Pre Labeled Mat)
125-Imz-polyethylene oxide-	95%
Tetraamino-polyethylene oxide
Imz-polyethylene oxide-125I-	87%
Tetraamino-polyethylene oxide
125I-Imz-polyethylene oxide (not	65%
cross-linked)

[0091] Various pre and post blood samples from the above experiments were further evaluated for complement activation by measuring C3a and C5a (by RIA) and for platelet activation by determining the percentage of platelets positive for the activation marker CD62. PLS10A platelet filters (Asahi) were included in this analysis as a control for comparison. The results for C3a and C5a is summarized in Table 5.

[0092]

TABLE 5
C3a And C5a Levels In Blood Exposed To Polyethylene oxide-Coated
And Uncoated Asahi R-2000 and PLS-10A Filters
	C3a (ng/ml)	Post-	C5a (ng/ml)
SAMPLE	Pre-Samples	Samples	Pre-Samples	Post-Samples
Cross-linked	952	1,276	20	54
Cross-linked	538	614	0	19
Cross-linked	857	1,047	17	13
Cross-linked	1,103	1,149	28	34
Cross-linked	610	619	15	15
Uncoated	319	248	29	19
Uncoated	686	716	15	11
PLS-10A	964	4,057	22	66
PLS-10A	839	2,169	33	34
PLS-10A	328	1,727	9	25
PLS-10A	437	2,572	4	26

[0093] High levels of C3a and C5a were found in blood samples obtained from Asahi platelet filter PLS-10A. Although these PLS-10A filters have not been used with whole blood, it appears that the PLS-10A produces at least a 2 to 4 fold increase in C3a and C5a levels as compared to the corresponding pre-samples. These levels of C3a and C5a are higher than the amount of C3a and C5a produced by the polyethylene oxide-coated Asahi R-2000 filters are more biocompatible than the PLS-10A commercial filter used for platelet concentrate.

[0094] The percent of platelets expressing the activation marker, CD62, is a sensitive measure of the extent of platelet activation. Samples of whole blood were analyzed (pre and post filtration) using a FacScan flow cytometer to determine the percentage of platelets positive for CD62. This analysis revealed (Table 6) that no elevation in the percentage of CD62 positive platelets occurred during filtration on any of the mats investigated.

[0095]

TABLE 6
Platelet Activation In Whole Blood Samples Exposed To Various Filters
		% CD62 in	% CD62 in
	SAMPLE	Pre-Samples	Post-Samples
	Uncoated	5.45	5.88
	Cross-linked-polyethylene	4.45	4.78
	oxide
	Cross-linked-polyethylene	5.20	5.24
	oxide
	Not Cross-linked-	5.45	3.27
	polyethylene oxide
	Not Cross-linked-	4.05	2.11
	polyethylene oxide
	PLS-10A	5.45	2.10

[0096] In this group of examples, polyvinyl chloride and silicone tubes were coated.

[0097] A. Polyethylene oxide-Coated Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Tubes:

[0098] PVC tubes (10 or 15 French size) were soaked in a water solution containing various concentrations of NH₂-polyethylene oxide (1%, 2.5% or 5%). The tubes were incubated at 55° C. overnight, then they were removed. The tubes were allowed to air dry at room temperature following by another incubation at 55° C. as the curing process.

[0099] The NH₂-polyethylene oxide-coated PVC was either used for crosslinking with another polyethylene oxide derivative without further washing or was washed extensively with water to remove free polyethylene oxide. Washed tubes were allowed to air dry at room temperature and stored desiccated until analysis. Note that the amount of bound polyethylene oxide was estimated based on the amount of radioactive ¹²⁵I-labeled-polyethylene oxide tracer that was incorporated in the polyethylene oxide coating solution.

[0100] B. Cross-Linking Of Amino-Polyethylene oxide-Coated PVC:

[0101] Dried NH₂-polyethylene oxide-coated PVC (before washing) was soaked in a water solution containing Imz-polyethylene oxide at a concentration of 2.5% (or lower). The crosslinking reaction was performed at room temperature for 24 hours.

[0102] The tubes were removed and allowed to air dry at room temperature. The tubes were then extensively washed with water to remove free Imz-polyethylene oxide. The washed tubes were dried at room temperature and stored desiccated as described above.

[0103] C. Polyethylene oxide-Coated Silicone Tubes:

[0104] Silicone tubes (15 French size) were pre-treated with sodium hydroxide before being treated with a polyethylene oxide coating. The sodium hydroxide treatment consisted of soaking the tubing in 1N sodium hydroxide for 1 hour, following by extensive washing (until neutral pH) of the tubes with water.

[0105] The method of coating polyethylene oxide derivatives (Imz-polyethylene oxide or NH₂-polyethylene oxide) onto silicone tubes was the same as for PVC above, except that all soaking in polyethylene oxide solutions were performed at room temperature. The step that involved curing at 55° C. was omitted. The final washed tubes were stored in a desiccated vacuum.

[0106] D. Attachment Of Heparin And Imz-Polyethylene oxide Onto Silicone Tubes:

[0107] Heparin and Imz-polyethylene oxide can be incorporated into the silicone matrix by either reacting heparin with Imz-polyethylene oxide-coated silicone tubes (a two step process), or by mixing Imz-polyethylene oxide and heparin in the same solution that was used as coating solution (a one step process). All heparin attachment was performed at 4° C. for 24 hours. The tubes were dried and washed as described earlier.

[0108] E. Fibrinogen Binding Assay:

[0109] All polyethylene oxide or Heparin-polyethylene oxide-coated tubes were tested for fibrinogen binding against control uncoated tubes. Each assay was performed with a triplicate sample using a small piece of tubing (about 0.4 cm length).

[0110] F. Measurement Of Surface Lubricity:

[0111] Each tube was cut into about 15 lengths and was placed into a designed flow-cell filled with saline (0.9% solution). One end of the tube was connected to an Instron instrument that served to pull out the tube from the flow-cell. The maximum force required for the Instron to pull the tube out determines the surface lubricity of the tube.

[0112] The force used for pulling the control tube (uncoated PVC or silicone) was set at 201b. The measurement was performed at two time intervals: 1) at time zero (t=0) where the tube was pulled as soon as it was loaded into the flow-cell; and 2) at rinsed time (t=30 minutes) where the tube was allowed to stay in the flow-cell containing saline solution for 30 minutes. Then, the saline solution in the flow-cell was replaced with new saline, and finally the tube was pulled out.

[0113] G. Stability Study of Polyethylene oxide-Coated PVC or Silicone:

[0114] This study was performed in saline and plasma solutions, at 37° C. up to 7 days, using ¹²⁵Imz-polyethylene oxide or ¹²⁵I-NH₂-polyethylene oxide-coated tubes (the radiolabeled polyethylene oxide was used as a tracer). Several sets of small pieces (about 0.4 cm length) of ¹²⁵I-polyethylene oxide-coated PVC (or silicone), and uncoated tubes were soaked in saline or pure plasma solutions. The samples were placed on a tube rocker which allows a continuous shaking of the samples during the entire incubation period. Each set of tubes (in triplicate) was removed from the shaker after day-1 (24 hours), day-3, and day-7. Each sample was counted for total radioactivity before removal of saline or plasma solution, then it was washed twice with water. The washed piece was counted for the remaining radioactivity. The ratio between the remaining radioactivity of polyethylene oxide-coated tubes after washing and the total radioactivity was recorded.

[0115] Polyethylene oxide-Coated PVC: The results of Imz-polyethylene oxide or NH₂-polyethylene oxide-coated PVC tubes are illustrated graphically in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 illustrates graphically bound NH₂-polyethylene oxide (mmoles/cm²) versus NH₂-polyethylene oxide concentration in the coating solution. Three solution concentrations are illustrated: 1.0%; 2.5%; and 5.0%. As shown in FIG. 5, NH₂-polyethylene oxide appeared to bind better to the PVC tubes than the Imz-polyethylene oxide derivative. Also, the amount of bound NH₂-polyethylene oxide onto PVC increased with increasing concentration of the NH₂-polyethylene oxide in the coating solutions. However, using high concentration of this NH₂-polyethylene oxide (e.g. 10%) in a primary coating solution is not necessary, because it reduced the amount of bound Imz-polyethylene oxide used in the crosslinked reaction; see FIG. 6, concentration of NH₂-polyethylene oxide in coating solution (before cross-linking).

[0116] Polyethylene oxide-Coated Silicone: FIG. 7 sets forth two polyethylene oxide derivatives: lmz-polyethylene oxide (Imz-polyethylene oxide cross-linked with NH₂-polyethylene oxide); and NH₂— polyethylene oxide (NH₂-polyethylene oxide cross-linked with lmz-polyethylene oxide). Illustrated in FIG. 7, both polyethylene oxide derivatives were strongly bound to silicone tubing. The amount of Imz-polyethylene oxide bound was about 4 fold higher than the amount of bound NH₂-polyethylene oxide. In addition, the results in FIG. 6 suggested that the primary coating of polyethylene oxide was very stable since the level of radioactivity was unchanged after the crosslinking reaction.

[0117] Fibrinogen Binding:

[0118] The results of fibrinogen binding to polyethyleneoxide-coated PVC tubing are summarized in Tables 7 and 8 below.

[0119] As shown in Table 7, polyethylene oxide-coated PVC exhibited a great reduction in fibrinogen binding, compared to control uncoated PVC. Tubings coated with a low concentration of NH₂-polyethylene oxide (1%) showed the same level of bound fibrinogen, compared to other tubings that were coated with higher concentrations of NH₂-polyethylene oxide (2.5% or 5%), and with or without crosslinking with Imz-polyethylene oxide (Table 7).

[0120]

TABLE 7
Effect Of Polyethylene oxide Coating On
Fibrinogen Binding Onto PVC Tubing
[NH2-polyethylene
oxide] in coating	Bound Fg (ng/cm2)	Bound Fg (ng/cm2) after
solution	before crosslinked (±SD)	crosslinked (±SD)
Uncoated	670 ± 124
1%	85 ± 9	136 ± 23
2.5%	110 ± 7	110 ± 19
5.0%	114 ± 27	127 ± 20

[0121] Also, the results in Table 8 indicated that there was no change in the level of fibrinogen binding to the PVC tubing after ETO sterilization.

[0122]

TABLE 8
Effect Of ETO Sterilization On Fibrinogen Binding to
Polyethylene oxide-Coated PVC Tubing
	Bound Fg (ng/cm2)	Bound Fg (ng/cm2) after
PVC Tubing	before ETO (±SD)	ETO (±SD)
Uncoated	462 ± 43	394 ± 65
NH2-polyethylene oxide	80 ± 19	82 ± 26
(1%)
Xlink-polyethylene oxide	84 ± 20	27 ± 15
(0.5% Imz-polyethylene
oxide)
Xlink-polyethylene oxide	69 ± 22	46 ± 8
(2.5% Imz-polyethylene
oxide)

[0123] The ability of the polyethylene oxide coating to reduce fibrinogen binding was also demonstrated to be obtained with silicone (see Table 9 below). The level of fibrinogen bound to the Imz-polyethylene oxide or NH₂-polyethylene oxide-coated silicone with or without crosslinking was about the same. This result suggests that the second crosslinking reaction with Imz-polyethylene oxide derivative may not be necessary in this type of coating.

[0124]

TABLE 9
Effect of Polyethylene oxide Coating On
Fibrinogen Binding Onto PVC Tubing
Silicone Tubing &
polyethylene oxide	Bound Fg (ng/cm2)	Bound Fg (ng/cm2)
Coating	Pre-Crosslinked (±SD)	Post-Crosslinked (±SD)
Uncoated	258 ± 173
125I-Imz-polyethylene	82 ± 27	52 ± 8
oxide
125I-NH2-polyethylene	62 ± 19	46 ± 2
oxide

[0125] However, m/z-polyethylene oxide coating may be used as crosslinker reagent to the attachment of heparin, as shown in FIG. 8. The results in FIG. 8, indicated that heparin and Imz-polyethylene oxide can be incorporated onto silicone tubing by a one step (S1) or two step (S2) processes to produce low fibrinogen binding surface. The activity of immobilized heparin is under investigation.

[0126] Surface Lubricity:

[0127] The results of the effect of polyethylene oxide coating on tubing lubricity are summarized in Tables 10 and 11 below for PVC and silicone, respectively.

[0128] In this analysis, surface lubricity was measured by applying a maximum force to pull out the tube from the flow-cell filled with saline solution. The force for the control uncoated was set at 201b, on the Instron instrument.

[0129]

TABLE 10
Effect Of Polyethylene oxide-Coated PVC On Tubing Lubricity
	Pre-ETO	Pre-ETO	Post-ETO	Post-ETO
PVC (10 fr.)	(t = 0)	(t = 30 min.)	(t = 0)	(t = 30 min.)
Experiment #1	not	7.6 ± 4.3	not	2.6 ± 0.6
(n = 3)	done		done
NH2-polyethylene
oxide (1%)
Experiment #2	0.75	0.56	0.89	0.94
(n = 1)
S1 (NH2-poly-
ethylene oxide 1%)
S2 (Xlink-	1.71	0.77	1.38	2.27
polyethylene oxide)
(Imz-polyethylene
oxide = 0.5%)
S3 (Xlink-	0.78	0.44	0.41	0.59
polyethylene oxide)
(Imz-polyethylene
oxide = 2.5%)

[0130]

TABLE 11
Effect Of Polyethylene oxide-Coated Silicone On Tubing Lubricity
Measured by friction test. Control uncoated = 20 lb
	Silicone (15 fr.)
	(n = 2)	(t = 0)	(t = 30 min.)
	Imz-polyethylene	13.6 ± 9.0	4.4 ± 1.3
	oxide
	NH2-polyethylene	5.7 ± 3.4	2.4 ± 0.2
	oxide
	Imz-polyethylene	5.0 ± 0.6	2.9 ± 0.3
	oxide-Xlink
	NH2-polyethylene	10.8 ± 0.9	5.3 ± 0.4
	oxide-Xlink

[0131] The forces required for pulling the polyethylene oxide-coated PVC or silicone tube were much lower than the force necessary for the uncoated materials. For both initial force (t=0) or rinsed force (t=30 minutes) PVC tubing coated with 1% NH₂— polyethylene oxide solution showed the same degree of lubricity, compared to other coatings (Table 10). These results suggest that NH₂-polyethylene oxide can be used at low concentration (1%) as a single coating onto PVC tubing.

[0132] Similar results were also observed with NH₂-polyethylene oxide-coated silicone tubing (Table 11). This derivative by itself can be used alone for coating silicone tube to produce surface with low-friction and low fibrinogen binding.

[0133] Stability of Polyethylene oxide Coating:

[0134] A. PVC Tubing: The results of the stability study of polyethylene oxide-coated PVC tubing in saline and in plasma are summarized in Tables 12 and 13, respectively. As set forth in Table 12, all polyethylene oxide-coated PVC with or without additional cross linking are very stable in saline solution, at 37° C. up to 7 days.

[0135]

TABLE 12
Stability of 125I-Polyethylene oxide-Coated PVC Tubing in
Saline Solution at 37° C.
	% Of Recovery	% Of Recovery	% Of Recovery
PVC Tubing	Day-1 (±SD)	Day-3 (±SD)	Day-7 (±SD)
125I-NH2-	95 ± 9	90 ± 9	98 ± 2
polyethylene oxide-
1.0%
125I-NH2-	94 ± 7	94 ± 3	93 ± 5
polyethylene oxide-
2.5%
125I-NH2-	91 ± 6	93 ± 4	96 ± 3
polyethylene oxide-
5.0%
Crosslink-1.0%	92 ± 5	102 ± 3	92 ± 5
Crosslink-2.5%	94 ± 8	98 ± 4	95 ± 4
Crosslink-5.0%	97 ± 4	97 ± 5	100 ± 7

[0136] Also, these tubings (post saline incubation) showed very good reduction in fibrinogen binding compared to control uncoated tubing (see Table 13 below).

[0137]

TABLE 13
Stability of 125I-Polyethylene oxide-Coated PVC Tubing in
Saline Solution at 37° C.: Effect On Fibrinogen Binding
	Bound Fg	Bound Fg	Bound Fg
	(ng/cm2)	(ng/cm2)	(ng/cm2)
PVC Tubing	Day-1 (±SD)	Day-3 (±SD)	Day-7 (±SD)
Uncoated	576 ± 45	513 ± 53	561 ± 44
125I-NH2-	75 ± 9	76 ± 16	71 ± 13
polyethylene oxide-
1.0%
125I-NH2-	119 ± 20	100 ± 25	100 ± 18
polyethylene oxide-
2.5%
125I-NH2-	87 ± 9	101 ± 8	93 ± 19
polyethylene oxide-
5.0%
Crosslink-1.0%	73 ± 10	66 ± 11	73 ± 18
Crosslink-2.5%	98 ± 6	85 ± 2	95 ± 9
Crosslink-5.0%	86 ± 16	79 ± 7	92 ± 25

[0138] However, in pure human plasma, the percentage of the recovery of bound NH₂-polyethylene oxide is in the range of 60% to 90% depend on the initial coating concentrations and the duration of the incubation (see Table 14 below).

[0139]

TABLE 14
Stability Of 125I-Polyethylene oxide-Coated PVC Tubing in
Human Plasma at 37° C.
	% Of Recovery	% Of Recovery	% Of Recovery
PVC Tubing	Day-1 (±SD)	Day-3 (±SD)	Day-7 (±SD)
125I-NH2-	92 ± 2	77 ± 10	65 ± 5
polyethylene oxide-
1.0%
125I-NH2-	86 ± 5	77 ± 20	72 ± 1
polyethylene oxide-
2.5%
125I-NH2-	102 ± 27	79 ± 5	72 ± 4
polyethylene oxide-
5.0%
Crosslink-1.0%	95 ± 4	91 ± 19	75 ± 3
Crosslink-2.5%	91 ± 1	82 ± 6	77 ± 6
Crosslink-5.0%	92 ± 2	82 ± 2	80 ± 7

[0140] B. Silicone Tubing: Similar results were obtained with polyethylene oxide-coated silicone tubing. In saline the coating is very stable, the percentage of polyethylene oxide recovery was all above 95% (see Table 15 below).

[0141]

TABLE 15
Stability Of 125I-Polyethylene oxide-Coated Silicone Tubing in
Saline Solution at 37° C.
	% Of Recovery	% Of Recovery	% Of Recovery
Silicone Tubing	Day-1 (±SD)	Day-3 (±SD)	Day-7 (±SD)
125I-NH2-polyethylene	101 ± 1	102 ± 3	102 ± 5
oxide
125I-Imz-polyethylene	100 ± 1	100 ± 6	99 ± 5
oxide
125I-NH2-polyethylene	98 ± 4	94 ± 6	92 ± 5
oxide-Crosslink
125I-Imz-polyethylene	93 ± 4	98 ± 3	88 ± 8
oxide-Crosslink

[0142] After saline incubation, all polyethylene oxide-coated silicone tubing still showed good reduction in fibrinogen binding (see Table 16 below).

[0143]

TABLE 16
Stability Of 125I-Polyethylene oxide-Coated Silicone Tubing in
Saline Solution at 37° C.: Effect On Fibrinogen Binding
	Bound Fg	Bound Fg	Bound Fg
	(ng/cm2)	(ng/cm2)	(ng/cm2)
Silicone Tubing	Day-1 (±SD)	Day-3 (±SD)	Day-7 (±SD)
125I-NH2-polyethylene	84 ± 21	68 ± 24	89 ± 17
oxide
125I-Imz-polyethylene	103 ± 43	99 ± 57	102 ± 7
oxide
125I-NH2-polyethylene	70 ± 18	50 ± 17	55 ± 16
oxide-Crosslink
125I-Imz-polyethylene	99 ± 36	79 ± 4	86 ± 13
oxide-Crosslink

[0144] In plasma and up to 7 days incubation at 37° C., polyethylene oxide-coated silicone tubes are very stable, since the percent recovery of bound polyethylene oxide varied between 80 and 100% (see Table 17 below).

[0145]

TABLE 17
Stability Of 125I-Polyethylene oxide-Coated Silicone Tubing in
Human Plasma at 37° C.
	% Of Recovery	% Of Recovery	% Of Recovery
Silicone Tubing	Day-1 (±SD)	Day-3 (±SD)	Day-7 (±SD)
125I-NH2-polyethylene	84 ± 2	84 ± 7	80 ± 7
oxide
125I-Imz-polyethylene	99 ± 3	94 ± 1	91 ± 4
oxide
125I-NH2-polyethylene	94 ± 5	94 ± 6	89 ± 10
oxide-Crosslink
125I-Imz-polyethylene	101 ± 4	95 ± 3	97 ± 3
oxide-Crosslink

[0146] Various Denacol pre-treated bovine pericardium heart valve tissues (HVT obtained from Baxter Edwards) were washed several times with deionized water, cut into circles, and pre-coated with an Imz-polyethylene oxide solution. This was followed by a reaction with NH₂-polyethylene oxide, at room temperature.

[0147] Polyethylene oxide-coated and uncoated tissues were soaked in a citrate phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) containing ¹²⁵I-fibrinogen, and incubated at 37° C. for one hour. Unbound protein was removed by washing extensively with PBS, saline and water. The amount of fibrinogen that was bound was calculated from the specific activity of the labeled protein and expressed as nanogram of fibrinogen per surface area.

[0148] PVDF flat sheet membranes (or biological tissues) were cut into circles, pre-coated with Imz-polyethylene oxide, and followed by reaction with Avidin, as described with NH₂-polyethylene oxide above.

[0149] Avidin-polyethylene oxide-coated PVDF, Uncoated PVDF (Millipore) and Avidin-PVDF (with Avidin non specifically bound) were soaked in PBS (pH 7.4) containing LC-Biotin-¹²⁵I-HSA. The LC-Biotin-¹²⁵I-HSA was prepared by coupling NHS-LC-biotin to ¹²⁵I-HSA. Unbound HSA-biotin was washed away with PBS and water. The amount of bound HSA was expressed as cpm per surface area.

[0150] The results are all illustrated graphically in FIG. 9. These results indicate that all cross-linked-polyethylene oxide-coated tissues (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A) exhibit about 10 fold lower fibrinogen binding than the corresponding tissues without polyethylene oxide coating.

[0151] FIG. 10 illustrates graphically the binding of HSA-LC-Biotin to Avidin-coated PVDF with and without pre-treatment with lmz-polyethylene oxide.

[0152] The results of the binding of biotin-HSA to Avidin-polyethylene oxide-coated PVDF membrane, FIG. 10, suggest that Avidin can be covalently attached to the Imz-polyethylene oxide-coated PVDF to improve the binding of Biotin-HSA, compared to Avidin-coated membranes without polyethylene oxide treatment.

[0153] Glutaraldehyde pre-treated bovine pericardium heart valves tissues were washed several times with de-ionized water, and pre-treated with an Imz-polyethylene oxide solution. This was followed by a reaction with NH₂-polyethylene oxide, at room temperature. The reaction with NH₂-polyethylene oxide may be optional. The result is bovine pericardium tissue treated with polyethylene oxide.

[0154] “Treated” in this sense is considered broader than “coated”, as the polyethylene oxide will tend to diffuse into the tissue rather than merely collecting on the surface. Optionally, the tissue may further be treated with a biologically active recognition sequence, peptide, or compound during or after the reaction with NH₂-polyethylene oxide.

[0155] Polyethylene oxide-treated and untreated tissues were soaked in a citrate phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) containing ¹²⁵I-fibrinogen, and incubated at 37° C. for one hour. Unbound protein was removed by washing extensively with PBS, saline and water. The amount of fibrinogen that was bound was calculated from the specific activity of the labeled proteins and expressed as nanogram of fibrinogen per surface area.

[0156] 8 mm disks of polyethylene oxide-treated and untreated tissues were implanted into the paravertebral muscle of New Zealand albino (NZA) rabbits. After 30 and 90 days implantation, the disks were removed and their calcium was quantified by using known standards, and the results calculated as μg Ca/mg dry weight tissue.

[0157] D. Results

[0158] The fibrinogen binding results are provided in Table 18 below. These results indicate that cross-linked polyethylene oxide-treated tissues exhibit about six-fold lower fibrinogen binding than the corresponding tissues without polyethylene oxide treatment.

[0159]

TABLE 18
Fibrinogen Binding of both Polyethylene oxide-Treated and
Untreated Glutaraldehyde-Fixed Tissue
	Bovine Pericardial Tissue	Bound Fibrinogen
	Untreated	155 ± 43
	Polyethylene oxide-Treated	24 ± 3

[0160] Table 19 (below) sets forth the results of the calcium content of a number of explanted polyethylene oxide-treated tissues at 30 and 90 days. It is apparent that the average for the three given samples at 30 days is skewed by the second tissue explant, and it is believed that the first and third tissue explants are more representative. This is borne out by the more closely grouped results for the three samples at 90 days.

[0161] In comparison, the results for a number of control samples is provided in Table 20 (below). The control samples are glutaraldehyde-treated tissues also implanted in the paravertebral muscle of NZA rabbits. The results show that the calcium content of polyethylene oxide-treated tissues is reduced significantly compared to glutaraldehyde controls. Indeed, even taking into account the seemingly anomalous second polyethylene oxide-treated tissue sample, the average calcium uptake of the polyethylene oxide-treated tissues was about one-fifth that of the untreated tissues at 30 days. The difference at 90 days is even more stark, with the average calcium uptake of polyethylene oxide-treated tissues being about 3% of that of the untreated tissues.

[0162]

TABLE 19
Calcium Uptake of Polyethylene oxide-Treated Lutaraldehyde-Fixed
Tissue from Rabbit Intramuscular Implant Technique
		Time
Rabbit #	Sample #	(days)	Total μg/mg Ca	Average ± St. Dev.
703S	B2613-05/4	30	2.648	23.209 ± 36.581
705S	B2613-05/2	30	65.445
707S	B2613-05/1	30	1.535
697S	B2613-05/4	90	3.41	6.691 ± 5.359
699S	B2613-05/2	90	3.788
701S	B2613-05/1	90	12.876

[0163]

TABLE 20
Calcium Uptake of Untreated Glutaraldehyde-Fixed Tissue from
Rabbit Intramuscular Implant Technique
		Time
Rabbit #	Sample #	(days)	Total μg/mg Ca	Average ± St. Dev.
703S	B2613-07/5	30	109.149	108.182 ± 32.173
704S	B2613-07/6	30	82.031
705S	B2613-07/3	30	73.746
706S	B2613-07/3	30	152.983
707S	B2613-07/2	30	139.964
708S	B2613-07/1	30	91.218
697S	B2613-07/5	90	267.791	251.114 ± 32.753
698S	B2613-07/6	90	257.285
699S	B2613-07/3	90	267.831
700S	B2613-07/3	90	210.112
701S	B2613-07/2	90	212.551
702S	B2613-07/1	90	291.111

[0164] It should be noted that the implant methodology wherein the tissues are implanted in the muscles of rabbits, or of other mammals, is believed to be more effective than traditional subcutaneous implant techniques. That is, tissue implanted subcutaneously tends to become rapidly encapsulated by the host's natural immune response. Because of this encapsulation, and because of the relatively low presence of calcium in such interstitial body spaces, the calcium uptake is from passive diffusion and is thus relatively slow. Therefore, tissue explanted at 30, 60, and even 90 days tends to have a calcium content of around 1 micrograms per milligram dry weight tissue. Differentiating between different tissues samples is thus problematic because of the relatively low resolution of the subcutaneous technique.

[0165] Implanting the tissues directly into the animal's muscle, however, vastly increases the exposure of the tissue to body calcium. It is well known that calcium flux within muscles is one of the prime physiological causes of muscle contraction. Therefore, tissue implanted into the muscle is regularly exposed to transitory calcium flows. Because of the increased calcium exposure, the tissue more rapidly absorbs the calcium, and thus exhibits a much higher calcium content at 30, 60 and 90 days. The sensitivity or resolution of this implant methodology greatly facilitates differentiation and analysis of the results for different tissue specimens. A full disclosure of the muscle implant methodology is provided in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/387,468, entitled “In vivo Screening Methods for Predicting Calcification of Implantable Prosthetic Material” filed on even date herewith.

[0166] It should also be noted that the polyethylene oxide treatment as disclosed herein may be effective in tissues other than bovine pericardium. For example, allograft tissue, porcine tissue, equine tissue, or other xenograft tissue may be treated with polyethylene oxide to obtain the benefits mentioned herein, in particular calcification mitigation. In addition, although polyethylene oxide treatment has been tested on tissue that has first been pre-treated, or cross-linked, with Denacol or glutaralddehyde, the same benefits described herein may also be obtained by treating fresh tissue.

[0167] In this example, methods and samples having multiple coatings were prepared and tested.

[0168] A. Polyethylene oxide-Coated Chitosan Surfaces:

[0169] 1. Attachment of Polyethylene Oxide onto Chitosan-Mats:

[0170] Glass filter mats (GFM) were cut into circles (about 1 cm in diameter). The circles were first modified with 1% chitosan solution. The polyethylene oxide derivatives with various lengths (polyethylene oxide-5K, polyethylene oxide-18.5K and polyethylene oxide-20K) were then covalently attached to the mats through the amine functional group of the chitosan ligand. At the end of the coupling reaction, some mats were treated with an NHS-acetate to acetylate the unreacted amine groups of the chitosan polymer.

[0171] 2. Evaluation with whole blood:

[0172] Citrated, fresh whole blood was filtered through various polyethylene oxide-coated chitosan mats and uncoated chitosan-mats. Fractions of 1.0 ml (x2) were collected as post-samples. The number of white blood cells (WBC) and platelets were determined on the pre-samples and post samples using a Sysmex cell counter.

[0173] 3. Results:

[0174] Polyethylene oxide-coated chitosan mats showed an improved recovery of platelets and WBC, compared to chitosan-coated mats without additional polyethylene oxide coating. N-acetylation of the free amine group of the chitosan molecules appears to improve WBC and platelet recovery even further compared to non-acetylated materials. Surfaces coated with HMW polyethylene oxide appear to have performed better than surfaces coated with LMW polyethylene oxide (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

[0175] B. Polyethylene oxide-Coated Heparin-Surfaces:

[0176] 1. Attachment of Polyethylene Oxide onto Heparin-Fixed Denacol-Treated Pericardial Heart Valve Tissues (HVT):

[0177] Two types of Heparin fixed Denacol treated tissues (3A and 4A) were obtained from Baxter CVG and were used for this study. They were washed several times with deionized water and were soaked in an oxycarbonyl imidazole-polyethylene oxide (Imz-polyethylene oxide) solution (pH=8.3) for 24 hours, followed by reaction with an amino-polyethylene oxide (NH₂-polyethylene oxide) at the same pH for at least 24 hours. Incubations were performed at room temperature.

[0178] 2. Biocompatibility Evaluation:

[0179] Polyethylene oxide-coated and non-polyethylene oxide-coated tissues were tested for their ability to bind fibrinogen (Fg) from a solution of purified human fibrinogen and from fresh whole blood according to the following procedure: polyethylene oxide-coated and uncoated materials were soaked in a citrate phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.4) containing ¹²⁵I-labeled fibrinogen (Fg), and were incubated at 37° C. for one hour. Unbound fibrinogen was removed from the materials by washing extensively with saline, then each sample was counted in a gamma counter. The amount of protein adsorbed was calculated from the specific activity of the fibrinogen and expressed as ng of protein per mg (or per surface area) of materials.

[0180] 3. Results:

[0181] The results indicate that polyethylene oxide-coated heparinized HVT can significantly reduce fibrinogen binding from both sources, a purified solution of human Fg and Fg from whole blood, compared to uncoated tissues (see FIGS. 13 and 14).

[0182] C. Reparin-treated Imz-Polyethylene oxide-coated-HVT:

[0183] A Heparin coating procedure, similar to the one described in section 2a above, was applied in this study. Heparin solution (prepared in bicarbonate buffer pH=8.3) was used instead of amino-polyethylene oxide to react with Imz-polyethylene oxide-coated HVT.

[0184] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.