Albumin Affinity Biomaterial Surfaces

Recently, considerable progress has been made in designing biomaterial surfaces which possess enhanced albumin affinity. Two derivatization methods for producing albumin binding biomaterial surfaces, based on an albumin affinity dye, cibacron blue, have been developed. Both surface derivatization methods were found to enhance the binding of albumin to an implant grade polyetherurethane. Evaluations of the enhanced albumin affinity demonstrated the binding to be both selective and reversible. Surfaces having such enhanced albumin affinity were found to be minimally thrombogenic and to discourage the adhesion of bacteria which might otherwise cause device-centered infections. We conclude that albumin affinity surfaces, such as these, may be useful in the design of non-thrombogenic and infection resistant biomaterials.