Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2-2018
Abstract
Excessive bleeding and resulting complications are a major cause of death in both trauma and surgical settings. Recently, there have been a number of investigations into the design of synthetic hemostatic agents with platelet-mimicking activity to effectively treat patients suffering from severe hemorrhage. We developed platelet-like particles from microgels composed of polymers carrying polyethylene glycol (PEG) side-chains and fibrin-targeting single domain variable fragment antibodies (PEG-PLPs). Comparable to natural platelets, PEG-PLPs were found to enhance the fibrin network formation in vitro through strong adhesion to the emerging fibrin clot and physical, non-covalent cross-linking of nascent fibrin fibers. Furthermore, the mechanical reinforcement of the fibrin mesh through the incorporation of particles into the network leads to a ∼three-fold decrease of the overall clot permeability as compared to control clots. However, transport of biomolecules through the fibrin clots, such as peptides and larger proteins is not hindered by the presence of PEG-PLPs and the altered microstructure. Compared to control clots with an elastic modulus of 460+/−260 Pa, PEG-PLP-reinforced fibrin clots exhibit higher degrees of stiffness as demonstrated by the significantly increased average Younǵs modulus of 1770 +/±720 Pa, as measured by AFM force spectroscopy. Furthermore, in vitro degradation studies with plasmin demonstrate that fibrin clots formed in presence of PEG-PLPs withstand hydrolysis for 24 h, indicating enhanced stabilization against exogenous fibrinolysis. The entire set of data suggests that the designed platelet-like particles have high potential for use as hemostatic agents in emergency medicine and surgical settings.
Recommended Citation
N. Welsch, A.C.Brown, T.H.Barker, L.A. Lyon, Enhancing clot properties through fibrin-specific self-cross-linked PEG side-chain microgels, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 166 (2018) 89-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.03.003
Copyright
Elsevier
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Included in
Macromolecular Substances Commons, Other Chemicals and Drugs Commons, Surgical Procedures, Operative Commons
Comments
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, volume 166, in 2018. DOI:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.03.003
The Creative Commons license below applies only to this version of the article.